Pelouse en Fête: Celebrating Spring in Paris

What a difference a week makes.

When I left for Russia, Paris was still gray and wet, with bare trees that looked as though they’d been put on pause, the reset button long forgotten after winter ended.

Then of course, the moment I leave — bam — SPRING. I arrived back in Paris seven days later to an almost unrecognizable city: one full of flowers and sunlight and green; oh my goodness, just so much green.

To commemorate the spring opening of the public parks — the “grass no longer resting”, so to speak — the talented Lauren organized a giant lawn party or Pelouse en Fête so that we could finally celebrate the sun on our faces and the grass between our toes.

(I’m actually not a fan of stepping anywhere near open grass due to a childhood allergy, but I’m told this is a feeling most people enjoy come springtime.)

I’d never been to Parc Monceau before this weekend — a travesty given how long I’ve lived here, but even more so once I realized how perfect the lawns are for picnicking, playing, strolling. It’s not just a jardin, this is a proper park.

Everyone carried along picnic baskets and Lauren even brought homemade pavlovas, introducing us all to this fabulous meringue-and-fruit dessert from her native Australia.

Contentedly full from wine and other nibbles, we laid out in the sun for hours just chatting, laughing, humming along to a French friend’s guitar- and ukelele-playing, and welcoming spring to Paris.

The afternoon sunshine also proved the perfect chance for me to practice my portrait photography. Below are good friends Carin and Diane, and new friends Meg, Olivia, and Anne — the latter three being Paris bloggers I’ve corresponded with, and wanted to meet, for ages (and who I had no idea were coming, proving once again how small the Paris expat circle really is).

Friends not pictured but who were also in attendance: Milsters, Sugared & Spiced, and Ylenia.

Hard to believe just 36 hours earlier I’d been in Russia, living a completely different life — the afternoon was so idyllic, it felt like I’d been lying on the lawn in Paris all weekend.

Hopefully the warm weather is here to stay — if this is any sign of things to come, I’m looking forward to finally enjoying springtime in Paris.

PS: what happens when you get a bunch of bloggers together? This happens. 

Annnd then we all ran home and wrote about it. For more picnic photos:

Lauren — Les Folies du Bonheur 
Meg — De Quelle Planète Es-Tu?  
Milsters — Little Pieces of Light 
Carin — Paris in Four Months 
Diane — Diane, A Broad  
Ylenia — Ambitieuse