Spring in Limoux

The sun is finally shining on the south of France, and we Queenslanders couldn't be more happy about it! We've put away our jackets and boots and exchanged them for shorts and thongs, and reintroduced our (now very pale) skin to the warmth of the sun. It's Springtime in Limoux!

When we returned from our trip to the Mediterranean coast we spent the next week indoors, sheltered from the cold and rain. A week of grey skies is enough to dampen any spirit, and after our trip to the beautiful coastal towns and some sunshine, we were craving more.

Then late last week the weather seemed to change, as if Europe realised that it is supposed to be Spring. The skies cleared to the most beautiful blue, the sun's rays warmed up, and the mercury rose to reach the low 20's; a much more recognisable temperature for us.

The town is a different place when the sun is out and the weather is warmer. People are wandering around everywhere, or happy just to sit on a park bench, and the town square fills up with people enjoying a wine in the sun.

Every round-about and traffic island has a garden bed that is full of colourful blooming flowers. It is such a pleasure to walk through town and take in the colours that line the streets.

Flowers on a traffic island

These bloomed in our
garden this week

Daffodils in our garden

Our garden has come alive as well. We started to see various flowers bloom from the overgrown garden beds a few weeks back, but with the added warmth of the sun more flowers have unexpectedly come to life.

Even our house has undergone a makeover with the warmer weather. The vine that covered our house when we arrived in Autumn has begun to refresh its leaves, while another plant that has seemed to thrive in winter has begun to bloom small yellow flowers all over it. Branches covered in flowers have grown across our window, greeting me in the mornings when I draw back the curtain.

Our house in Autumn (October)

and in Winter (February)

Covered in snow (January)

and in flowers (April)

Another sure sign that Spring is well and truly here is the length of the days. Daylight saving kicked in about two weeks ago, and with the extended light hours that this part of the world already experiences in the warmer months, the sun is now up until around 9pm. This is a new experience for us, with our bodies taking some time to get used to eating dinner in broad daylight. We have a whole new appreciation for the thick block out curtains in our house!

Spring in France is a beautiful time of year. After experiencing the coldest Winter we have ever had, we feel so lucky to be able to experience this change in the season and all that France has to offer as the weather warms up.