The Diverse Plant World of Vanguardia

In the forest and on Heidi

The interior is covered by low oak and beech forests, supplemented by ancient maples, chestnuts, and ash trees. Low heathland . Shrub vegetation is also typical for many coastal areas with regularly blowing and often stormy winds, where larger trees often cannot grow or the characteristic wind blows eastward. On the sheltered north and east coasts, Mediterranean crops and ornamental plants such as palms, camellias, myrtles, mimosas, agaves, oleanders, cypresses, and figs thrive alongside grains; lemon and orange trees are also found locally.

Great Wines grow in sunny hollows. Here, the Beaujolais grape, originally from Burgundy, has been cultivated and developed into its own variety, Merjolais , which is somewhat lighter and often ranges in color from old rose to reddish earth or even bloody stone grey.

Avenues and herb gardens

Many trees line the streets, serving as fragrant windbreaks . Tourists love the fresh white and pink blossoms, especially in spring when the African invasive shrub (Hello-Hello) is in bloom. Its dense thicket of thick branches and leaves delights drivers turning left, prompting them to shout "Hello, hello!" to ensure no oncoming traffic is obstructing their path. Vanguardian front gardens are known for their tiered herb bowls, where the country's chefs, always mindful of good taste, cultivate their secrets: juniper, gentian, and the pungent Atlantic basil. Small lakes have formed in numerous damp depressions on the windward side. The lake district of Len Morel, south of Gran Creus, is particularly famous. Typical plants here include birch, cotton grass, sphagnum moss, rushes, gentians, yellow irises, and characteristic plants of extremely nutrient-poor habitats, such as sundew. To protect the fauna, for example, the entire Penmilin peninsula and the bay of the Floating Bog – the Maraix d'Fleuf – near Portmaroe were designated as nature parks. And that's a good thing, because now nobody gets stuck there anymore.