The entire city of Bormes-les-Mimosas is a city in bloom! In 2003, the city was awarded the Gold Medal by the Entente Florale…… This is the “Flowery Alliance of Europe,” an international horticultural competition that recognizes municipalities and villages for excellence in horticultural displays. Trophies are presented annually by tourist boards and horticultural societies of European countries in two categories: Towns (population of 5,000-30,000) and Villages ( Population of less than 5,000) Each town or village selected is visited by a Jury and an assessment is made. The competition was founded over 40 years ago, initially in Great Britain and France. The Fort de Brégancon, located inside the community of Bormes-les-Mimosas, is the official retreat for the President of the French Republic…..so you know this place has to be spiffy!
Upon arrival I set about to find a mimosa tree, only to find out they bloom in the Spring and I was here in August! But, I did learn that the Chinese believe that the bark and flowers of the mimosa (which they call the happiness tree) promote a heathy stress response. It has fernlike leaves, prickly stems and fluffy pink or yellow flowers, but it is the bark that is most often used. To make an herbal tea, simply allow the bark (a teaspoon per cup) to simmer in water for 15-20 minutes……..then strain.
Let’s look at Bormes-les-Mimosas and I think you will see why it has won the Gold Medal! Through the narrow lanes we go………
To find color and beauty everywhere!
This is probably one of my favorite doors ever! I wonder if there is a door key under that rock?
The only mimosa to be found here, for me, was in the form of a cocktail…..equal parts of cold sparkling wine with cold fresh orange juice! Here’s to you!
Have you been to a town or village that has been recognized by the Entente Florale? Let me know!
I hope you have enjoyed our little tour today!
The instructions for SOS are easy. The photos can be flowers, vegetables, a garden design, whatever, as long as it’s garden related and posted on Saturday! So, its six photos. Of Gardens. On Saturday. Easy Peasy. To see all the SOS’s look at SIX ON SATURDAY, hosted by the Propagator, to check out all of them each Saturday! See you next week!
ThatTravelLadyInHerShoes 
C’est magnifique! Nearer to home, Stradbally, where I taught 2007-2013, was a gold medal winner in 2003. Beautiful village, just 15km from me.
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2002
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Pádraig I am so glad you were able to visit another “Beautiful VILLAGE! I must pull out my photos of the #1 Loo of the Year in the UK, that I stumbled upon one year! Beautiful flowers there as well! How many folks know there is a Loo of the Year, I wonder?
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I’ll stick with beautiful village.
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A Beautiful city. My aunt has had a second home there for years and goes to Menton every year for the lemon festival , 2h away.
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Oh, I would love a place here! We were on the Perfume Trail and went through soooooooo many little villages, so soooooooo beautiful! Our final stop was at the Grasse Perfume Factory……and an Aussie and I were the last to leave the place! I still wear perfume from that shop! And women always ask me about it!
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PS I would love the Lemon Festival too I bet !
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Famous Grasse perfume Factory and its “noses”, as we name them here ( people who make perfumes)
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Loved the place! We had a beautiful young girl “nose!”
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What a lovely place, atmospheric! I’ve decided to go and shop for some Mimosas now 👍👍
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I am soooooooo ready to go anywhere right now……..We’ve been looking through the travel magazines!
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We have a list! Maybe surprisingly but it’s our own country plus France again, Italy and …….. Georgia … the country. I’m about to start a wine challenge, will you join in and help to spread it?
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Oh my gosh! A wine Challenge? Do I know enough about wine? I enjoy drinking it, but not on an informative level……I’ll have to look into your challenge!
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You don’t need to know anything, just buy, drink, think. I will guide you. Simple. Do it with friends?
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We haven’t been together since lockdown…..all the old folks are afraid!
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We meet in the street, 10 yards apart 😂😂
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Oh, my gosh! They would call the cops here!
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That sounds like a fun challenge Dr. B. What did you have in mind?
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I’m still writing the details but it’s based on learning about wine experientially. First find a good wine merchant nearby, someone who sells a good range of wines from around the world. We will work in “three dimensions “, grape, country, region. Each week I will give you a grape, you go and buy two bottles of that grape, from different countries or regions depending on the weeks challenge, taste/drink and then write about the wines in a format I will give you. Do it with family, with friends or on your own.
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It’s a pretty spot and magnificent during the month the Mimosa blooms, as is the entire Route.
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I love all of the south of France! And I like the Alsace region as well. Well Now that I think of it, I really just like France!
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Me too – Vive la France
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The village starts with a few advantages before you even begin to consider the flowers! What a beautiful place, Cady 🙂 🙂 Have a great weekend!
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Gosh, no wonder it gets top awards! It is a very picturesque place.
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I love that image with the hanging lantern. It’s how I imagine my garden could look – but never will. It would look very good as a print hanging on the wall of my conservatory though 🙂
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Glorious!! I’ve been to some villages with floral recognition but I don’t remember the names. Many villages in France has wonderful displays of flowers even if they don’t rise to the level of this or award-winning.
janet
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I know! Aren’t they lucky! I am so ready to travel again! Cady
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Oh I love this post and I so want to be there !
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Beautiful narrow places filled with vivid flowers!
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You’ve really pulled out all the stops this post, Cady. What a totally lovely place, one i’d never heard of but next time I have a chance to tour in France, I shall ask to be taken there.
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It was a great village and on the Perfume Trail to Grasse!
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Thanks for sharing this….many years since I visited Bormes…..
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What beautiful images. All six of them. That’s an easy peasy challenge.
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