10 June 2009

The Plane Trees of France


The plane trees of France. Apart from Paris, one of my first memories of la France was as a teenager, driving down to the French Riviera. It took two or three days as we drove through tiny villages, stopping for long lazy lunches in the sun. There were no autoroutes in those days.

Narrow country roads, lined with plane trees - I've never forgotten - the beginning of my love affair with France.

Here's one of those wonders in the Jardin Biovès in Menton.

20 comments:

Vogon Poet said...

I remember the plane trees along the road to the railway station of the tiny village where my grandparents lived. As a kid these were the only trees I knew (not much better now).

Bibi said...

Well, we share a memory. I too remember these trees. I think at one point that there was talk of removing them from certain roads, since they were a 'threat' to drivers who occasionally slam into them.

brattcat said...

This photograph looks like an exquisite abstract painting.

siva // ശിവ said...

Will you please post this tree in full size...

*SparkleMirror* Kiln-Fired Art Studio said...

What a beautiful piece of art, caressed by it's own nature...
David

Jilly said...

Siva, sorry, I didn't take any full length photos that day - just the detail. Will take one another time. I never tire of these magnificent trees.

Kate said...

Unusual looking bark; now I must google the tree to learn more.

Jilly said...

Kate, it's a sycamore in America!

Vogon Poet said...

@ Bibi - I remember the same talk for the same reason!

maria said...

The word camouflage comes to mind.
Quite interesting and beautiful bark!!

gabrielle said...

I remember seeing these trees for the first time in Barcelona and thinking how beautiful they were/are. There's something about what happens to them in the Mediterranean light... Thanks for your lovely photo/words as I've often wondered how many other people share my affection for plane trees.

Abe Lincoln said...

I was going to comment and say it looks like our American Sycamore but then before I got down to here I read the comments and Kate had already mentioned it. These trees are monumental giants over here and the canopies filled with charming birds that sing the sweetest songs like the famed Baltimore Oriole shown on My Birds Blog today.

Marie said...

What would we do without them when the sun is burning? There are so many different varieties of plane trees in the South.

marley said...

How beutiful and unusual. I can see why the image stayed with you.

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

this looks like a military camouflage tree with the dappled greens. I am glad you enjoyed the photos on my site. We will have to enjoy tea one day together.

Clueless in Boston said...

Beautiful photo, like Brattcat I think it looks like an abstract painting.

Catherine said...

Tree shaded roads.....I remember too, sat with no seat belt in the back of the car of my parents.

Snapshutter said...

Such an interesting bark. The pastel colors make it look delicate.

Sally said...

I fell in love with France partly through seeing those roads in French movies!

Sally said...

...and Sydney is a city of plane trees too (the London plane)

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