ULTRA VIOLET TRIPS TO BOOK NOW!

Now that Pantone has determined that Ultra Violet is the hot color of the year, we thought it would be a great idea to immerse ourselves in some primarily purple places. We found some wonderful destinations that belong on your springtime travel bucket list, filled with violet, lavender, and all shades of purple blossoms.

From the lavender fields of Provence, to those in the UK, to wisteria and plum blossoms in Japan, to jacaranda in California, you’ll be in ultra beautiful ultra violet heaven! Check them out below.

LAVENDER FIELDS OF PROVENCE

The lavender fields of Provence are famous for their purple passion. Walking through them, when the flowers are blooming, is one of the most heavenly scented and beautiful experiences you can have on this planet.

The legendary Cistercian Abbey of Sénanque sits at the edge of Gordes, one of the most beautiful villages in France, amid a sea of lavender. The beautiful 8-hectare park offers a sweet aromatic garden.

A few kilometres from Gordes, check out the medieval beauty of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque, the Fontaine de Vaucluse, and the bottomless Saint Véran spring.

Les Couvent des Minimes Hotel and Spa is a very special place to stay while on your lavender quest. And, you can follow the lavender trail to its perfume destinations. Check out the Distillery Aroma’Plantes, an organic family farm, specializing in the production of medicinal and aromatic plants. Draped along the slopes of Mont Ventoux, in the Vaucluse.

WISTERIA FLOWER TUNNEL AT KAWACHI FUJI GARDEN, JAPAN

Talk about a tunnel of love! The Wisteria Flower Tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Garden, located in the city of Kitakyushu, Japan is a dream to walk through. Over 150 Wisteria flowering plants, including 20 different species, will totally enchant you.

The best time to get your purple fix here is from is late April to mid May, typically peaking at the end of April.

JACARANDA MAGIC IN LOS ANGELES

Jacaranda trees can be your purple crush. In spring and fall, you can find their blossom canopies peaking, swaying in the breeze over Los Angeles.

Watch their purple play against an orange sunset. Get heady with their fragrance.

Pretoria, South Africa is known as Jacaranda City --  the whole city turns a gorgeous blue violet shade during the 6 short weeks these trees are in bloom. You can find swaths of jacarandas in Australia, Mexico and generally balmy climates.

PLUM BLOSSOM FESTIVALS IN CHINA & JAPAN

While cherry blossoms are more famous for inspiring spring festival flings, plum blossoms look just as beautiful, last longer,  and, arguably, have an even more beautiful fragrance. And, of course, they result in Beautiful Purple fruits.

To experience the beauty of plum blossoms, you’ll want to head to Japan and/or China. The season begins in February, so they are already underway. The season typically runs through March.

In Japan:

Kairakuen

Kairakuen (Ibaraki) -- This is one of the largest plum festivals, with thousands of plum trees, in over 100 varieties. This park is considered one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan.

Koishikawa Korakuen

Koishikawa Korakuen is one of the oldest landscape gardens in Tokyo, dating back to the early Edo period. Its grove of plum trees that bloom in particularly vibrant colors.

Hanegi Park

Hanegi Park is burgeoning with plum blossom right now. With over 700 plum trees, the air is full of perfume and pinkish purple glory.

Yushima Tenjin

Yushima Tenjin is a shrine with a small garden of plum trees and holds an annual plum festival from now until March 8. Check out the incredibly tiny bonsaied plum trees.

Odawara Ume Matsuri

Get ready for 35,000 white plum trees with views of Mt. Fuji at Odawara Matsuri Ume. Gorgeous! There is a popular photography contest you can enter to show off your blossom shots.

Ome-shi Plum Park

Ome-shi Plum Park has over 1,500 plum trees in bloom, spilling down its sloping hills. One tree is over 300 years old. The park's festival lasts from the end of February to the end of March.

Read more about Ultra Violet all this week on BeautifulNow.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Ade Russell. “Lavender.” Provence, France.
2. Photo: by Ming-yen Hsu.  Lavender Fields in Provence France.
3. Photo: by Andyblind. Lavender Field in Provence France.
4. Photo: Courtesy of Les Bories and Spa. Abbey of Notre-dame de Senanque on a visit from the hotel. Provence, France.
5. Photo: Courtesy of Les Couvent des Minimes Hotel and Spa. Provence, France.
6. Photo: Courtesy of Kumako365jp. Wisteria Tunnel. Kawachi Fuji Garden. Japan.
7. Photo: by Rachel James. Purple Wisteria.
8. Photo: by waltarrrrr. Fallen Jacaranda Blossoms in Los Angeles.
9. Photo: by VirtKitty. Jacarandas in bloom in Los Angeles.
10. Photo: Courtesy of Ride that Camel. A Chinese Plum Blossom Festival.
11. Photo: Courtesy of Brad Austin Imaginative Florals. Kyoto Plum Blossom Festival. Kyoto, Japan.
12. Photo: Courtesy of Uncover Japan. Plum Blossoms in Kairakuen, Japan.
13. Photo: by mrhayata. Plum Blossoms at Koishikawa Korakuen. Japan.
14. Photo: by Kanegen. Hanegi Park Plum Blossoms. Hanegi Park. Japan.
15. Photo: by Guilhem Vellut. Yushima Tenjin Plum Blossoms. Tokyo, Japan.
16. Photo: by Alex Pierre. Plum Blossoms.
17. Photo: Courtesy of Sibylleito. Plum Blossoms at Ome-shi Plum Park.  Tokyo, Japan.
18. Photo: Courtesy of Treemendus. Plums.
19. Image: by Marcovdz. “Purple Fields 2.” Provence, France.
20. Image: by Vincent Brassinne. “Lavender Shapes.”
21. Image: by Kathryn Yengel. “Cotswold Lavender.” Cotswolds, United Kingdom.