There’s a sense of heightened nature in the mixed planting of the gardens of the Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux in Provence. Similar plants are abundant in this area and are thriving in this ornamental garden in the full Provence sun on a hillside between Mont Ventoux and Les Dentelles de Montmirail. The air temperature was about 34°C when we took our picnic lunch in shade nearby.