Almonds

Almonds have flourished in Languedoc and Provence since the fifth century. Once there were plenty of orchards, but this is a hard crop to grow successfully and the blossoms come so early they often succumb to frost; sadly, today, they are mainly grown in Spain and, increasingly, in America.

But the naturalized almond trees remain, growing wild in the hedgerows everywhere, unfolding the first beautiful, pink and white buds, creating wild bursts of joy along the edges of the lifeless vineyards in February, usually with some bluemountains and blue sky to set them off.