garden — Blog — Notre Maison Design Group

Recently, I read a post from Sophie Harvey that perfectly captures August in Provence: a time of harvest, reflection, and quieter alignment. That phrase has stayed with me because it reflects exactly how I’ve learned to live here—more attuned to the rhythms of the earth and to myself.

When I first moved to Provence and hosted an August apéro, I invited French neighbors and acquaintances—many of whom have since become dear friends. They would arrive with jars of confiture made from the apricots and tomatoes in their potagers. At the time, I hadn’t yet understood how deeply rooted it is in this culture to eat only what is in season. Now I know: this is the month when the potagers overflow with haricots verts, courgettes, aubergines, tomates, fraises, pêches, and abricots. In Provence, you eat what is in season—always. If you want tomatoes in winter, you preserve them in summer. This rhythm of planting, tending, harvesting, and storing is woven into daily life. Today, with my own garden and fruit trees, I’ve embraced the same ritual—composting, planting, harvesting, and even canning. The reward? Eating the best food of my life, food that began as BIO seeds months ago.

But August is not only about harvest. It is also a season of reflection. The heat presses down, shutters are closed, and afternoons stretch long with siestes. It’s a natural time to journal, to notice what has bloomed in the garden—or in life—and what still waits to be planted. Some years I’ve realized there were places I still wanted to visit or experiences I hadn’t yet tried. Autumn, with its quieter days, is often the perfect season to bring those dreams to life.

And finally, August offers a gift of alignment. Early morning foraging walks before the heat, evenings spent at outdoor plays or exhibitions, or sitting by the sea in Marseille—all of these moments remind me that life doesn’t need to be rushed. It is enough to align with what feels nourishing, creative, and connected.

Very soon the vineyards will hum with the grape harvest, and autumn will arrive—another season with its own beauty and rhythm. Wherever you are, you don’t have to live in Provence to embrace these lessons: eat seasonally, make space for quiet reflection, and choose experiences that align you with joy and meaning.

This October 18–24, I invite you to join us for the Foraging in Provence Retreat—a week designed to shift from the fast pace of “doing” to the quiet magic of being.

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