Spring is in the air in France! The mimosa, with its small golden yellow flowers, is celebrated in France. Paris fleuristes and boutiques de fleurs are bursting with bunches of the blooms. Cheerful bouquets are bought at the local markets to brighten ones homes and offices during the grey days.
Mimosa grows primarily across Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur from January to March and has become a symbol of the region and heralds the oncoming of spring. Mimosa flourishes in February. The Côte d'Azur's winter landscape comes alive with huge blooming bushes of mimosa. Private gardens and public spaces are suddenly bursting with sunny yellow mimosa.
Spirits rise at the sight of a bunch of yellow mimosa…as do we when the first yellow daffodils appear, sometimes pushing through snow. One January, years ago, I bought a bunch of mimosa at the Municipal Market in Menton. Until then I had only seen pictures. It seemed to light up our apartment in Cap Martin.
The Route de Mimosa runs from Bormes-les-Mimosas to Grasse. Among the various village festivals celebrating mimosa are Bormes-les-Mimosa with its spectacular flower parade mid-February, the Grand Corso du Mimosa, and is home to Pépinières Cavatore, the leading grower of mimosa…over 200 species and varieties. In early February, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, considered the mimosa capitol, hosts la Fête du Mimosa.
Mimosa was brought from Australia to France in the 19th century. The climate and soil proved to be perfect for its proliferation in southern France. The early English aristocrats came to the Côte d'Azur for the sun and warmth, escaping chilly England…taking home mimosa blooms packed in their bags. They built villas and cultivated elaborate gardens. In those days, wealthy landowners imported or went on expeditions hunting for exotic plants around the world. The stories about these plant explorers make for interesting reading. The mild Mediterranean climate was perfectly suited to grow the many exotic plants collected, including mimosa…plants that had never been seen before began to appear in private gardens. Many of these exotic gardens still exist and are open to the public.
Mimosa flowers contributed to the great success of the Grasse perfume industry. The mimosa blossoms are exported all over the world. Mimosa flowers are used in the French fragrances: Guerlain's Après L'Ondée, Chloé's Atelier des Fleurs Herba Mimosa, and Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. Mimosa also flavors honey.
Then there's the Mimosa cocktail, a popular brunch drink that became popular in the United States in the 1960s. Frank Meier, a bartender at the Ritz Hotel in Paris in the 1920s, is said to have created the drink. He was inspired by the yellow flowers in the hotel garden. The bright yellow hue of equal parts orange juice and champagne or sparkling wine reminded him of the yellow mimosa flower.
Mother Nature gave the French what the locals call "winter sun." All thanks to the exotic plant explorers who brought mimosa from Australia. Enjoy these Paris pictures of sunny mimosa. Perhaps a trip to Paris or the Côte d'Azur to see such a sunny display is a trip you would like to make. Even now, it's not too late. Bonne vacance!
À bientôt