Lavender harvest time in Provence

Normal peak lavender blooming is from about mid-June to end of July. Harvest can start in early July as I found out. I was in Provence the first week of July 2012 (in Sault on the 8th) and it was amazing. I stayed in Roussillon and when I left on July 10, I noticed that some of the fields around there had been harvested while I was there. I would say the earlier in July the better, but you should still see lots of lavender through the end of July and into early August also. Different strains of lavender peak and are harvested at different times.

Thanks Nancy!

How about Sunflower? When do they bloom? Are they also blooming in the early July??

I'm not sure the length of the 'bloom' time for sunflowers but I saw tons of them all over Provence (especially the southern part) when I was there in early to mid-July. I love to photograph flowers and scenery and one of the reasons I picked July for my trip to France (though I was warned it would be hot and crowded) was to see the lavender and sunflowers and I was not disappointed. You'll love it.

This is probably obvious but the lavener blooms earlier in the south, later in the northern part of Provence so good to keep that in mind if you choose the later dates. I specifically timed my first visit to Provence for early/mid July to be sure to see the lavender fields.