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Flowers

Girl, 11, decorates tombstones in France with unsold flowers

The bright idea spread quickly on social media

Best plants to add a pop of winter colour to your French garden

We share the winter-flowering plants that can brighten up your garden on the greyest days

Why the French wear cornflower pins to commemorate their WW1 soldiers

This Remembrance Day we look at the origins of the bleuet

practical

Why are chrysanthemums the flower of Toussaint in France?

These flowers can be seen all across France at this time of year

Discover the splendid gardens at Chenonceau, France

We talk to the man responsible for the gardens about what work goes into their planning and upkeep

Follow your nose on a scent-sational tour of France’s spring flowers

Explore the national and regional floral specialities of France, and sniff out the best flower festivals and horticultural events taking place around the country this spring

Rare blossoming of ‘huge penis flower’ draws crowds to French garden

Thousands turned out to see the world’s tallest flower, which gives off a stench similar to rotten meat

French garden diary: Sweet William the superpower

We look at the origins and aesthetics of these trouble-free perennials

French garden diary: New roses bred for resistance

We examine the floral options available to gardeners in France

Be careful eating wildflowers on spring walks, warns health agency

Confusing wild garlic for colchicum could have fatal consequences

Drought measures, fuel prices, FIFA awards: The week ahead in France

This week (February 27-March 5) also sees the start of the Paris-Nice cycling race and the 40th anniversary of the death of iconic Tintin creator Hergé

What is a ‘ville fleurie’ in France and how is this label attributed?

We take a look at the rules and criteria behind France’s ‘cities and villages in bloom’ competition

How to keep your Christmas cyclamen alive all year in France

We talk to a French breeder who has been growing cyclamen since 1919. Their plants are winter hardy and summer heat resistant

Why chrysanthemums are the French ‘flower of the dead’

As the festival of Toussaint and honouring the dead approaches, the chrysanthemum flower spikes in popularity. But why is this flower the French symbol of the dead?

Your French garden - growing clematis in containers and pots

Growing climbers in pots is becoming more popular. Our gardening writer Cathy Thompson shares tips for thriving clematis, which variety to choose and where to buy in France

Gardening in France: Autumn camellias and composting tips

How to make the most out of your composting bins and autumn-flowering camellias are back as the garden focal point

Edible flowers in France: Pansies for the plate is a growing market

Marius Auda is a family farm, which specialises in growing 25 varieties of flowers at Gattières near Nice on the Côte d’Azur

Gardening in France: The skin deep power of the marigold

This month Cathy Thompson discusses the multi-faceted Calendula, more than just a good looker

Gardening in France: Permaculture tips

Cathy Thompson discusses the method of enabling the soil in your French garden to mobilise its own resources rather than adding nutrients yourself

Surprise flowers for healthcare workers at French hospital

Local florist leaves bunches of flowers on workers' cars after her shop was forced to close due to the new lockdown

Bacteria deadly to olive trees found in southern France

The bacteria, xylella fastidiosa, was identified in a lavender sample in the southern Occitanie region in August.

How to prepare for and cultivate top tulips in France

Tulip lover Cathy Thompson on planning ahead and finding a cultivar to suit.

The story behind artist Monet's great passion: water lilies

How to mimic Monet’s pond life: Cathy Thompson on a chance encounter and the artist’s passion for water lilies.

New map: France on red alert for pollen allergies

The grass pollen count is high throughout France with many departments in the east and southwest on red alert.

Boost care homes with Lily of Valley gift

An initiative to give Lily of the Valley flowers to staff and residents of retirement homes in France and at the same time support flower producers who cannot sell the traditional May 1 gift due to home confinement has been launched.

French garden diary: Lilac love has roots in Lorraine

Cathy Thompson has some serious horticultural heritage right on her doorstep

French garden diary - primrose primula perfection

Cathy Thompson explains her enduring passion for the humble primrose

French language notes: Say it with flowers

Say it with flowers... but not little blue ones!

French garden diary – Orchids

Science behind orchids’ triumph. Cathy Thompson on micro-propagation plus how to care for indoor beauties

The future of natural weed killers

Cathy Thompson on working without Roundup, plus a recipe for courgette gluts

The fan of forgotten French fleurs

Open Gardens: dedicated to a Mayenne attraction

The Connexion meets a former doctor who has worked tirelessly to create her dream garden in Pays de la Loire

French garden diary - September 2019

Mrs Bean and autumn planting - Cathy Thompson on her correspondence from Connexion-reading gardeners

Bypass must not harm flowers

Work on a bypass road has resumed after being forced to stop for three months due to the discovery of some rare purple flowers along the route.

French garden diary - June 2019

A female rose by any other name - Cathy Thompson on variety names and flowers that flourish in her own garden

French garden diary - May 2019

’Tis the season for tender loving. Cathy Thompson reveals her choice of May veg, and gives seasonal flower tips

May 1: Origins of the springtime day for worker rights

France is marking the traditional Fête du Travail today (May 1), which has held a symbolic space in the calendar for centuries, and been an official working holiday since 1947.

Green news in France - April 2019

An update on environmental events and occurrences in France: flora under threat, supermarket advertising leaflets and action on agriculture

French garden diary - March 2019

Zinnias put zing into your garden - Cathy Thompson revels her flower bulb likes and dislikes for April planting

French garden diary - December 2018

Hellebore, a fine festive flower - They are picky but Christmas roses are great inside and out, says Cathy Thompson

Memory of war lives on in forest flowers

The Argonne forest near the Belgian border is home to certain colourful little flowers usually only found in America – they were brought over accidentally by troops in the First World War.

Full-time art of running a thriving florist’s shop

Crafts in focus: Florist Eric Délibie tells Jane Hanks about the work involved building a thriving business

Co-working: it’s a money maker

They have names such as atelier de fabrication (fablab) , bricothèque , café associatif or relais Amap but these makerspaces or co-working places could create thousands of jobs - many in hard-hit rural areas.

French garden diary - Hooray for the helenium in July

From her Vosges garden, Cathy Thompson reveals her seasonal plant tips

Love and other drugs: Police alert to Valentine roses

Police across Europe are on the alert for roses containing more than simple amorous intentions this Valentine’s Day (today, February 14), as cocaine smugglers jump on the annual opportunity.

Bretons go Dutch for early tulips

A colourful corner of Finistère is perennially Dutch thanks to a passionate family of growers, writes Jane Hanks

This is why “flowers of dead” are popular at Toussaint

Have you ever wondered why chrysanthemum flowers are the traditional symbol of the November Toussaint holiday in France, despite also being known as the “flowers of the dead”?

High pollen count warning

Allergy sufferers in Var and Alpes-Maritimes should take precautions

Primulas catch the eye in more French gardens

One of Europe’s largest primula collections is held by a British couple in Brittany whose 1,040 varieties sell all over the world.

Without Rochefort, we would not have begonias...

Historic naval port Rochefort in Charente-Maritime is not a native habitat for begonias, but there would be no begonias were it not for Rochefort, which now houses Europe’s most important collection of the genus.

Nantes welcomes spring with free flowers

Residents encouraged to pick up packs and plant seeds to brighten streets

Keeping France's shrinking violet trade alive

The significance of the delicate plant for two regions