Provence for lavender and/or sunflowers

I'm assuming you'll be renting a car for Provence. I came to Provence from Nice, taking the train to Avignon (just for one night) then picking up a rental car for 5 nights in Roussillon, which I loved. It was a great base for seeing the lavender and the villages in that part of Provence. I did one day trip that took me down around Arles and Salon-de-Provence, where I saw lots of sunflower fields. I guess I would say one base in the Luberon and one further south, Arles maybe, or even Aix if you want a larger town.

Nicole,
Valensole is the primo spot.

Staying there early July this year, booked an Airbnb as there is not much lodging in the immediate area.
Hard to time exactly early July seems best for the lavendar, a little early for sunflowers I think but should be some fields in bloom.
Some may prefer Gordes or similar hill top town as a base for a more interesting town and some immediate lavender and sunflowers around but then not close to Valensole
Around Gordes area the elevation I believe is different and the bloom a little later so mid July may be better than early July there.
Another option of an interesting town not far away is Moustiers Sainte Marie. I was planning on booking a place in Moustiers and just making the drive to the Valensole fields many times daily but changed my mind and booked a place right in Valensole.

We stayed in Roussillon for a few nights (which was more than sufficient) and toured the area. You can drive the lavender route from there. There are also plenty of sunflower fields. We stayed at the Le Clos de la Glycine. The hotel restaurant is Chez David. The price of dinner wasn’t inexpensive but was one of the most memorable and delicious I have ever had. I highly recommend it.

I would say we would TGV down to Avignon and pick up the car there, as that worked well for us in 2015.

I usually go the Airbnb route, so that works. I actually liked our Airbnb in Salon, so maybe I could see if she is still offering a spot. It was a room, but with a lovely private bathroom, a super nice hostess, and the use of her kitchen if we wanted to cook, as well as secure parking in her yard.

We had a short stop in Rousillion in 2015 and quite enjoyed it. We also did a quick visit to Gourdon (edit: getting Gourdon and Gordes mixed up...we visited Gourdon over near Vence). I got my linen tablecloth there! Have also been to Arles and Aix. I think Valensole was the place I had seen mentioned, but just wasn’t coming to me.

This is the one famous spot which is outside of Valensole, it also gets very crowed.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Abbaye+Notre-Dame+de+S%C3%A9nanque/@43.8826952,5.0819093,12z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x12cbc38f3004cba7:0x81252327db0b8615!2s04210+Valensole,+France!3b1!8m2!3d43.837064!4d5.983242!3m4!1s0x12ca0db2e33c18bb:0x47ca1205ef3ceca0!8m2!3d43.9282518!4d5.1866627

Close to Gordes.
Most every other postcard type photograph you have seen was taken in Valensole or within 10 miles in any direction from Valensole ; as fields are all around that area.

Valensole is a little off the tourist map but photogs will be there in mass come early July I believe.

Oh, you will have so much fun.
Valensole is definitely the place for lavender. We stopped at the more rustic farm and watched them process the lavender. We stayed near Roussillon in the Luberon area. (it was a very nice hourish drive to Valensole.
A very popular photo is the Abby de Senanque with the lavendar field next to it. (yes, we went there, too)
Sunflower fields are everywhere. Just north of Arles was one that many car travelers stopped and took photos (Please when you go into any field to not trounce down the growth... these farmers grow this crop for profit, not for tourist pictures).
I would recommend buying the lavender soap and sachets in the community markets instead of in Valensole. We were there a few days before the lavender festival.. Check that out. You may be in the area for the festival. We left France the day before Bastile day.