Continuing with the previous post, we return to the Chelsea Flower Show, the most important garden festival in England. On this occasion we will present the "L'Occitane Garden" by landscape architect James Basson and his recreation of the typical landscape of the French region of Haute-Provence.
Before entering the description of the garden, it should be noted that this year the company sponsoring this garden, L'Occitane, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its natural beauty products brand, which they define as a return to the company's roots in Provence. It is said that in 1976 a young Olivier Baussan found an old discarded steam distiller and began producing essential oils from rosemary and lavender plants from some local producers, which he later sold in the area's markets.
The "L'Occitane Garden" is a recreation of the beauty and environment of Haute-Provence, representing the edge of a lavender cultivation field accompanied by the contours of the hills and forests of Provence. A plain, at the back of the garden, represents local agriculture with the typical lavender cultivation fields and almond trees as protagonists. A small stream begins advancing among the rocks until it occupies the central part of the garden, before disappearing under a small stone bridge.
In this garden, sensory aspects become the protagonists of this space. Aromas and colors play an essential role, creating an intoxicating and enveloping atmosphere.
Another aspect of special interest in Basson's garden, and the result of enormous fieldwork on the soils and plants of Provence, are the varieties of plants specific to this region, around 300 species, among which we highlight [euphorbias](http://www.salagraupera.com/es/cataleg/general/category/euphorbia-euphorbiaceae-3), thistles and fennel; which together with the limestone rocks typical of this area, have contributed to recreating a Mediterranean corner in Chelsea.
In short, another year, and with a new gold medal in the Show Gardens category, James Basson and his team have demonstrated that they are capable of recreating Mediterranean landscapes that captivate the judges and visitors of the Chelsea Flower Show.
Images: elblogdelatabla.com / express.co.uk