May 1st in France is a both a day to give Lilies-of-the-Valley to loved ones and a national holiday to celebrate workers' rights - Labor Day. Children who live in the countryside, get up early in the morning to pick the muguet and make little bouquets. Members of labor organizations, including the Communist Party, stand on the corners in villages, selling the bouquets.
On this day, biking through the Loire Valley, the Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud) was in full bloom. These trees are native to North America and are blooming in the Dark Plate of the Lurie Garden. The tree here was planted along the roadside near a field of rapeseed.
It seemed as though each village we visited had wisteria vines growing along a stone fence or trellis - each one larger and more prolific than the next. The lavender blossoms perfumed the air as we rode by and reminded me of my grandmother's yard.Photo Credit: David Tepfer (two lower photos)
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