the house we rent here is called “maison olivier,” or “the olive tree house.” there is a shapely olive tree in the courtyard behind the house, and it reminds us that we are in the one region of the world–the mediterranean basin–whose boundaries are defined almost exclusively by where olives grow. if they grow near you, you are in the mediterranean region. if they don’t, you are somewhere else. all i know is that there is nothing like the silver sage foliage of an olive grove to make you aware that you are not in minnesota anymore.

olive branch

autignac, languedoc, france