Fête des Mères

It's Mother's Day in France.

🌸 Joyeuse fête des Mères 🌸

 

Once upon a vine

  

With over a hundred fifty years of life left in it, a landmark wisteria vine in a hidden corner that shaded over a century of terrace diners was tragically damaged during renovations, and removed.

Below: in its former glory

 (click to enlarge)

Buds and blooms

Parks and squares are filling up with flowers. It's springtime in Paris.

Bonjour le printemps

 Today is the first day of spring.

Explosion

To all our Lebanese friends and at The American University of Beirut, all our sympathies, sadness, and prayers.

Book: "The Bitter Years" / "Les Années Amères"
Photography of Edward Steichen

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Update 8/10/2020: This photo was taken on July 26, nine days before the explosion in Beirut. I had just been offered these magnificent lilies, no special occasion, and the first thing I thought, feeling slightly uncomfortable, was, "Um white lilies are for funerals" but didn't say anything as they were such a beautiful gesture and gift, put them in a vase and took this photo. When I looked at it I noticed that the grim coffee table book was in the shot and wanted to re-take it without it, but decided not to bother. Days later, on August 5, the world woke up to the terrible news of the explosion in Beirut, and the next day, August 6, searching for a photo to post as usual, this one almost jumped off my screen. I was struck how the overhead angle made the lilies look uncannily like an enormous explosion of some sort, while below, on the cover, a man covers (protects?) his face with his hand. Since then this post has elicited comments about its symbolism but it wasn't done on purpose, as the photo had been taken days before. - BPJ

Fête des Pères

Today is Father's Day - To the best father.

- In Loving Memory -

Mother's Days

N'oubliez pas:

This year Mother's Day in France is celebrated Sunday, May 26th.

- Happy Mother's Day U.S.A. -

Corner florist

Explosion of colors at a compact flower shop in the 11th arrondissement.

Morning muguet

May 1st is the Fête du Travail when vendors will be on almost every corner selling muguets.

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- Please give a muguet today to someone disabled, homeless, or who lives alone -
Years ago my daughter and I started this up, liaising with local florists

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Below: muguets at a Left Bank flower shop

 

Spring flowers

A fleuriste has set out flowers and small plants on a sidewalk in Montmartre.

"Bonne Fête Maman!"

It's Mother's Day in France and florists are brimming over.

Film pick:
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS
"Just in time for Mother's Day...."

Plus de fleurs...

Yesterday's images were viewed so many times that I decided to post a few more - just in time for Mother's Day.

In France La Fête des Mères falls on May 31st this year.

 

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Plus de fleurs, plus de bonheur - The more flowers, the more happiness - French saying

Through fleurs

Fragrant bouquets are lined up along a street market stall, packed in thick sheets of plastic filled with water.