In 十分な bloom: Austria's Alpine slopes step into spring...

By JUSTIN POSTLETHWAITE
Updated: 10:33 BST, 25 March 2009

Tiny alpine blooms 現れる warily through melted snow. In the 影をつくる／尾行する of a lime tree and 古代の belfry, Samoens' sunkissed village square buzzes with 地元のs, while the ski 雇う shops 一致する their winter takings.

A gorgeously dopey St Bernard dog? -? something of a 地元の celebrity, our waiter tells us? -? （競技場の）トラック一周s from the fountain. After a long and frosty w の間の, springtime is under way in this hidden corner of the French アルプス山脈.

In 十分な bloom: the Kaiser mountains in Austria are radiant in the spring 日光...

An hour from Geneva, まっただ中に the meadows of the Giffre Valley, the village of Samoens (pronounced Sam-病弱なs) is a 楽園 for nature lovers in spring and summer.
スキーヤーs may have gone home, but the 訪問者s who stick around are rewarded by mountain pastures rich with colour.

The place to 証言，証人／目撃する spring 現れる is up on the landscaped slopes of the Jaysinia Botanical Alpine Gardens.

With chattering birds, 宙返り／暴落するing waterfalls, a 12th-century 城 廃虚 and the perfumes of 5,000 工場／植物 種類 from five continents, it's a delight.

Our host for a 小旅行する of the jardin, which snakes along a path within touching distance of cacti and poisonous petals, is the affable and knowledgeable Christian Chauplannaz, who 監督するs the grandly 肩書を与えるd Mountain Ecosystems 研究室／実験室.

Ask if you can see his library of old botanical 調書をとる／予約するs that chronicle the garden's 研究 and 開発 over the １０年間s.

Monsieur Chauplannaz is also a beekeeper and is delighted to show off his 群れている and heartily encourages a honey tasting.

It's not just the 約束 of topnotch greenfingery that 誘惑するs 訪問者s to the gardens? -? the 見解（をとる） is sensational. From its upper 観測所 you can take in a panorama over the old village and along the valley in the direction of another of the 地域's celebrated 目印s, the 激しく揺する 形式 at Sixt-Fer a Cheval.

This is where we 長，率いる for an 探検 of the mighty Cascade du Rouget (Mullet Waterfall), which 噴出するs from two sources 270ft above.

It's a perfect 位置／汚点／見つけ出す for a picnic.

Past a 12th-century abbey and through pastureland, we trek to the Cirque du Fer a Cheval ( Horseshoe Circus). A <特記する／引用する>cirque </特記する／引用する>is a bowlshaped r ock valley on the 味方する of a mountain, often with a glacier or 永久の snowfield in it.

It is the starting point for many of the area's 引き上げ（る）ing and biking 追跡するs, most of which are childfriendly.

The tourist office 供給するs 地図／計画するs and guides. 同様に as walking, the area is 広大な／多数の／重要な for rafting, kayaking, climbing, horse riding and donkey trekking.

支援する in the village, Samoens basks in the glory of its 肩書を与える of Land of Art and History.

Join the 週刊誌 guided 小旅行する in English and you'll learn about its chapels, 含むing a 16th-century Gothic beauty, its famous brotherhood of stonemasons, whose 専門的知識 was utilised by Napoleon and Vauban, and a beautifully 保存するd 1864 sundial.

Fittingly, our self- catering chalet, La Remise, a mile or so from the village in the tranquil Vallon d'En Haut, is built によれば 地元の tradition with 支持を得ようと努めるd panelling and 石／投石する.

The beaming owner, Pascal, lives next door and is on 手渡す to advise on everything from the best 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s to the recipe for a perfect fondue.

Even in spring, the 誘惑する of melting fromage is too hard to resist, but a barbecue on the chalet's suntrap terrace is a sure 調印する that winter is long gone.