Provence Gardener was started by our friend and fellow gardening enthusiast, David, upon moving to the South of France. Through his Provence Gardener blog and Instagram account, he shares tips, tricks and daily doses of garden inspiration while restoring and tending to the gardens on his expansive property in Provence!

We recently had the opportunity to chat with David. Read on to learn about his journey and follow the links below for more of his stories and advice from the garden…

You share your many Provence gardening projects on your Instagram page! How did your passion for gardening start?

My passion for gardening started when I was a young boy. My mother was a Master Gardener in the USA and she and I would spend hours together in the gardens. We moved every few years, because my father was in the military, so each move my mother would teach me new concepts, plants and garden techniques based upon our new home. Gardening became an activity where we could talk about day-to-day life and having my hands in the dirt helped me feel grounded. Today it feels wonderful to build upon what my mother taught me and continue our shared passion.

What brought you to the South of France?

Wine, food, sun and joie de vivre! My husband (@teamdavide) and I vacationed here 17 years ago and fell in love with Provence. And so began a love affair with the region (the Luberon) and a seed was planted that one day we would love to live here. 15 years later, we were living in London, working all the time, and felt like our lives were out of balance. We said to each other — ‘life is short, what are we waiting for, lets go live our dream.’ So we decided to take the plunge and moved to the south of France in order to prioritize where and how we wanted to live. We then adjusted our careers to support that choice and have never been happier.

Of course, we must ask: what are your favorite things about life in Provence?

After living in Washington DC, San Francisco, Chicago and London, we both wanted to slow down. We love that life here revolves around seasonality of food, local wines, outdoor activities, art and spending time with friends. Each weekend we explore different farmers’ markets and brocantes (antiques markets). We were lucky to have purchased a property that has over 200 olive trees, so each year we make our own olive oil! It is a great way to be connected to the land.

Since you’ve started Provence Gardener, what lessons have you learned?

So many! Here are my top 3:

First, the Provençal sun is not joke, it is intense and will dry out your flowerpots and beds quickly — so irrigation is key. I have learned how to install a drip irrigation system which doesn’t waste water like a traditional sprinkler system, so it is much more environmentally friendly.

Second, most of my garden experience has been in the mid-Atlantic of the USA, so learning about the plants that thrive in the Mediterranean environment has been a fun journey.

Third, gardening on a large scale has been a huge adjustment as well. I have always lived in cities with small yards or balconies with limited space. Here I can decide to plant in mass, such as 15 hydrangeas in a large setting or 108 roses in my rose garden. It has been so much fun to explore my passion in a space that allows me to think BIG. And it has even encouraged me to go back to school for a degree in Garden Design which I hope to complete in 2024!

Thank you for sharing your story with us! We’re excited to continue following your garden transformation.

Merci,
The Fleurettes

To learn more, follow David on Instagram @provence_gardener or at Provence-Gardener.com