Almost every image included this week will be tinged with lavender. I’ve thrown in a misty-eyed recollection from around the time when Mrs. PC and I first began to be serious about each other. (I remain serious on this point, and I think Mrs. PC might be as well, although that’s for her to say…)
So, it’s on with the rose tinted, oops, I mean lavender tinted spectacles, and away we go all the way to the Île d’Orleans, a little gem found just outside Quebec City on the St. Laurence River.
I don’t know too much about plants, but one I recognize and really like is lavender (and yet some dare to say I’d be no good as a gardener?) for the look and the fragrance. If you read last week’s post – brave of you and much appreciated – you’ll be relieved that everything is far more pleasant smelling this week.
We parked in fast receding shade at La Seigneurie de L’Ile d’Orleans, a lavender farm located on the northeastern tip of the island. After we paid a small entrance fee, Mrs. PC pulled me away from my conversation with the ticket vendor (all I was asking was if they had plants in any other colours, which earned me withering looks – I wilted) and we set off up a slight incline to find the lavender field.
The morning was very warm, with a slight breeze providing some respite and transporting the unmistakable scent of lavender. Wonderful! We crested the rise and before us lay hundreds – thousands? – of lavender plants, row upon row.
What an amazing sight! We wandered up and down the rows, so happy to be immersed in such a colourful scene. It made me feel almost like a child, and if I’d been younger, I might have actually run up and down the rows, cackling and cavorting to express my joy. But I didn’t – how many stern looks can an oversized toddler handle in one morning?
No cackling then, but plenty of droning – the steady buzz of hundreds of bees floating from plant to plant. The sleepy buzz-drone of bees is summer in one sound, and without wanting to be waspish about other insects, so pleasant compared to, oh, I don’t know, wasps? (Any wasps reading this, yes I know you’ll be seeing me soon enough, likely late August, probably in a beer garden – I’ll set aside a small saucer of beer if you promise to be nice…)
I was going to leave it there, but goodness, how could I almost forget to relate the tale of young love, from a time when two young yet-to-be OldPlaidCampers were first dating? It’s probably why you’re still reading this, isn’t it? Honestly, stop now, particularly if you like music. I stand by the musical choices shared below, but to many, they may possibly represent crimes against culture.
One of the big album releases of that long ago summer was Misplaced Childhood by Marillion. I liked Marillion, but not many did until Misplaced Childhood was released. Then, for a little while, it was less mortifying to like them, probably because a few of the tunes seemed to strike a national chord. One was the saccharine and sentimental Lavender, and if you’ve clicked the link or know the song, you’ll know what I mean.
Anyway, Mrs. PC borrowed the album from me and pretended to like it, and I borrowed Bowie’s Let’s Dance from her and pretended to like that. On such wobbly foundations one of the greatest love stories of our ti… oh, never mind all that, we started dating. And here we are a few short years later, still dating. Why, we went to a lavender farm together just the other day…
“A penny for your thoughts, my dear?” Okay, definitely time to wind this one up. I will mention, it took me forever to think up a title this week. I think it’s accurate? Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
OldPlaidCamper 
Ahh, your post made me smile. What a lovely trip down memory and lavender lane 💜 one of my favourite colours and smells. Can’t say I know the artist or album you mentioned but it lead you to love so that’s the main thing. Stay happy and have a great weekend. 😊
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Thanks, Miriam! Wouldn’t waste too much time on Marillion – bit of an acquired taste and they’re hard work sometimes – but I’m fond of them for reasons shared in the post!
Hope your week is going well!
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Thoroughly enjoyed your colorful post with all its avenues of blooming pleasure, OPC! I find the Marillion tune a bit too close to second-rate Genesis but I’ve probably enjoyed some of the band’s other stuff in years gone by (Let’s Dance is not my favorite Bowie, either). The lavendar farm certainly intoxicates, however, and reminds me of the dominant Icelandic flower recently experienced– the brilliant lupines covering & nourishing so much of the country’s volcanic soils. Anyway, thank you & we’re glad that Quebec City & surrounding area are treating you folks well.
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Spot on Marillion assessment there, Walt! But since they had an unwitting small but important part in my early romantic life (can’t believe I just wrote that) I’ll give them a pass… Also agree on Let’s Dance – minor Bowie at best!
Sounds like you had a bright and wild time of it in the Icelandic lupine meadows (what am I writing?! As it appears I’m aiming to become a romance novelist, I’m gonna leave it here!)
I hope your week is going well!
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Enjoyed the lavender and must say I got such a strong visual and sound memory at the mention of the sprinklers whisper. I like Mrs PC’s taste in music at that time of your meeting. Have fun you two, er, three.
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Thanks, Jane! Yes, there’s something in the song that captures early childhood, or a wistfulness about younger days…
I hope your week is going well!
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I heard myself chuckling a lot as I read this, another doozy, pc. I loved seeing such an abundance of lavender and liked hearing that it was hot, knowing that the heat would’ve elevated the scent…oh wow, how glorious. Liked hearing about the bees and your courting days with Mrs. PC. Really enjoyed this uplifting and sweet-smelling post, pc. This was my favorite line “…how many stern looks can an oversized toddler handle in one morning?”
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Thanks, Jet, and I’m happy this one raised a smile or two! The lavender field really was glorious, and thank goodness some oversized toddler didn’t misbehave…
I hope your week is going well!
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What a beautiful post and I enjoyed your lovely walk in lavender and the young love memories!🙂 First time listening to Marillion and enjoyed some of the video until I just had to play Bowie’s Let’s Dance and Modern Love videos.😁 After looking at your fabulous photos, next summer I’m adding the yearly Lavender Festival at my favorite hard cider company to my list. Thanks for making me laugh as I pictured an oversized toddler dancing in lavender and I’m loving the gems your sharing from around Quebec City! Enjoy the week and maybe a few more music recommendations from Mrs. PC!😁
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Thank you! There’s absolutely no danger of Marillion ever overshadowing Bowie, even minor Bowie! A lavender festival put on by a cider company – sounds like dangerous fun…
Mrs. PC has less noisy music tastes than me – and I’ll rarely admit to liking any of it as we agree to disagree on who has the worst musical preferences. I think one of the reasons we’re still together after all these years is the invention of noise canceling headphones. Without those, I suspect I’d have been slung out some time ago…
I hope your week is going well!
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Love lavender
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Yup, can’t go wrong!
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