Maritime Alps - Spring in France

Day 1.    Arrival in Nice and to Tende (11 May)

Following our arrival we will drive to Tende stopping for nice Mediterranean plants on the way up, including grape hyacinths and orchids such as violet helleborine, Limodorum abortivum.

Day 2.    Around Tende. 

A good chance to see the many local rock outcrops with Saxifraga callosa ‘Bellardi’ (an old name no longer used, but we like it for the romance!) as well as other alpine and sub-alpine flora around the village that we can drive to. Including Sempervivum arachnoideum, orchids (Ophrys, Neottia, Dactylorhiza, Orchis, Cephalanthera), Gentiana acaulis and Polygonatum odoratum among many others. A local church has Saxifraga 'Bellardi' growing in the walls.

Day 3.    Miniere Valley 

A short drive takes us up to the Miniere valley, where one side is alpine in character and the other Mediterranean. Diverse plants include; Primula marginata, Viola calacarata, Hepatica nobilis, Crocus albiflorus, Caltha palustris, Ornithogalum umbelatum, Pulsatilla alpina, Primula veris and near rosettes of Sempervivum arachnoideum.

Day 4.    La Brigue.

A small village nearby with a lovely range of limestone rocks and an old vineyard. It’s a charming little town, where a footpath take us up to see Saxifraga cochlearis (hopefully in flower). There are orchids here, and also other Mediterranean flora and open areas that form natural rock garden.

Day 5.    Casterino Valley/Val Valmasque. 

In the turf here among orchids, cowslips and grape hyacinths we should see Tulipa sylvestris subsp. australis and Fritillaria tubiformis moggridgei. The Valmasque valley we see Primula viscosa and P. hirsuta and those with the energy can continue to walk up for Anemone ranunculoides, Saxifraga florulenta and higher still, Eritrichium nanum.

Day 6.    Jardin Botanique de la Flore des AlpesMaritimes (JBAM). 

On the way back to Nice we can visit the garden of David Richter (former student of the RBG Kew) and his partner Beth Marshall. Jardin Botanique de la Flore des AlpesMaritimes (JBAM) is a new botanic garden dedicated to the wild plants of the Maritime Alps. From here it is an hour to Nice.

Day 7.    Departure from Nice (17 May)