Head to Valencia, Spain for the Batalla de Flores, an exhilarating parade of exquisitely decorated floats. As each passes by, handlers bombard spectators with blossoms in a joyful flower battle.
Singapore Garden Festival
This annual garden show is a showcase of beautiful landscape and floral designs by award-winning international and local designers and community gardeners. The Singapore Garden Festival features over 79 exquisite gardens and floral displays at various locations throughout the city, including the Flower Dome at Singapore Botanic Gardens.A highlight of this year’s festival is the Floral Windows to the World competition, which showcases incredible feats of floral creativity. Master floral artists from Belgium, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, and the United States of America are tasked with creating stunning cut-flower displays that are inspired by their heritage.
Other highlights include The Tree House – Modern Kampong Life by John Tan, which features a timber “tree house” covered with banana plants, immature heliconias, and palms that invoke the spirit of traditional kampong living. Also check out a display by Harijanto Setiawan called Echoes of Almeda, featuring rare plants in a unique woven bamboo structure. Alternatively, head to the Eco-Garden at the B4 level of ION Orchard to see floral creations that compete in the Floral Designer Society Singapore (FDSS) competition.
Bloemencorso Bollenstreek
Known as the Bollenstreek or Flower Parade, this Dutch event attracts thousands of visitors to its massive, cheerfully bedecked floats that travel from Noordwijk to Haarlem. Launched after World War II to raise people’s spirits, the parade features flowers of all kinds, including dahlias, roses, and tulips—although amaryllis grower Willem Warmenhoven created the first adult float in the shape of a whale using hyacinths in 1947.During the Friday night illumination parade, which starts in Noordwijkerhout, visitors can see the floats lit up with gorgeous lighting. The parade itself takes place on Saturday, traveling from Noordwijk to Haarlem. Those who want to get a closer look at the floats can attend a behind-the-scenes tour during the parade’s build-up day, which starts on Wednesday in Sassenheim.
One of the best ways to take in the sights is by cycling the 26-mile route that’s surrounded by the bright tulip fields. A bike rental costs about EUR45 per person for the entire day, and you can start the adventure from any point between Lisse (Keukenhof) and Haarlem.
Virginia’s Historic Garden Week
For one week each spring Historic Garden Week, the country’s only statewide house and garden tour, lets visitors step inside private gardens, homes, and historical sites. Often called America’s largest open house, the annual event is hosted by local chapters of the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV).The 2024 tours feature properties throughout the state, including a stunning home that has been fully restored since its initial construction in 1909 and a rural home thoughtfully constructed using repurposed wood from older buildings. Several tours showcase historic landscapes, including a boxwood parterre at the home of GCV founder Bunny Mellon, and the second terrace of the East Garden at Stratford Hall with its sweeping views of the river.
Tour tickets, which range from $20 to $60, help fund GCV’s ongoing restoration projects—129 projects have been completed since the organization’s inception. Proceeds also go toward research fellowships for graduate students of landscape architecture. Thanks to sponsors this year, whose contributions include the Blue Ridge Bank for purchasing recycled paper for the tour brochures and the Fauquier County Public Library for supporting ticket production, GCV is able to keep the costs affordable for everyone.
EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival
The EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival blossoms each spring with sweeping beds of flowers, more than 100 larger-than-life topiaries featuring Disney characters, themed gardens and fun activities for all ages. Plus, the festival offers mouthwatering bites and beverages at 20 outdoor kitchens, including new flavors like the Cubanito with mojo-marinated pork belly, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and stone ground mustard sauce at Florida Fresh and classic favorites like Chicken & Waffles at The Honey Bee-stro hosted by the National Honey Board.The festival’s scavenger hunt, Garden Graze, gives guests the chance to enjoy tasty treats and earn a free souvenir. To do so, guests can collect stamps at each of the 18 food booths by selecting five unique items to taste.
Other popular offerings at the festival include Garden Rocks concerts, special kids’ activities and a variety of merch inspired by this year’s theme, Coco. Look for a limited edition Orange Bird collection, as well as merchandise from the film.
Flower Carpet of Brussels
Every other year in mid-August, the historic Grand Place of Brussels is transformed by a carpet-like tapestry made out of flower petals. Usually themed, these begonia flowers are meticulously placed by volunteers in a design that changes each time. The festival features both day and night shows, which are often accompanied by a sound and light show.The horticulturists involved in creating the flower carpet take several months to cultivate their begonia fields to get the exact colors needed for each design. A team of professionals selects a theme, which can range from countries to specific people or cultural elements.
The first design was a flower interpretation of the Theatre Toone, which sits right in the center of the Grand Place and is one of the most famous rod puppet theaters in Europe. From there, the Flower Carpet has branched out, with designs reflecting everything from parks and gardens to cultural motifs, including Belgium’s 150th anniversary in 2017. If you can’t make it to the city for this bi-annual event, try visiting one of the restaurants on the square that have a higher view of the design.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a monthlong celebration of flowers, featuring four main tulip show gardens and many events. The festival was originally a two-day event, but has since grown to include 30 days. It’s best to visit the tulip fields during the week versus the weekend to avoid crowds and the worst weather.This year, the festival is featuring a new tulip field experience that allows visitors to handpick flowers and take photos at their own pace. There’s also a unique opportunity to attend a workshop that takes guests behind the scenes at RoozenGaarde/Washington Bulb Co., Inc. and teaches them how to properly handpick tulips.
Other special options include the festival’s famous tulip bloom map that highlights the tulip fields currently in full bloom at RoozenGaarde. General admission to the garden is $15 per adult, with children ages 2 and under free, from 9 AM – 7 PM Monday-Friday and 8 AM – 7 PM Saturday-Sunday. For a more intimate experience, guests can purchase a $50 Experience Pass to tour the tulip fields and gardens along with attending a number of special events.
Biltmore Blooms
Every spring, the historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, dazzles with an annual kaleidoscope of color. The gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted come alive in a spectacle that’s truly breathtaking. Tulips lead the way, but azaleas and rhododendrons also bloom throughout the season to create a stunning landscape.In addition to the dazzling array of flowers, the estate’s other attractions are in full swing during Biltmore Blooms. Visitors can tour the magnificent Biltmore House, take cooking or wine classes at the Estate’s Winery, shop at the Antler Hill Village, and enjoy a variety of other activities.
As the festival draws to a close, guests can also check out the incredible exhibition of glass artist Dale Chihuly at the property. As a bonus, Biltmore’s approach road will be adorned with Mountain laurels and Catawba hybrid rhododendrons to offer a dazzling welcome to visitors. The display runs through May 23rd. If you’re planning to visit, it’s best to consult Biltmore’s Bloom Report for up-to-date insight on what types of flowers are most impressive each week.
Infiorata di Noto
Located in the south-eastern part of Sicily, Noto is renowned all over the world for its marvelous baroque architecture. This enchanting city attracts thousands of visitors every year to admire the incredible palazzi and church balconies embellished with sculptural masterpieces.Since 1980, Noto has been hosting the Infiorata di Noto, one of the most meaningful flower festivals in Sicily. The idea for the event was born when the town established a “twinning” with Genzano di Roma, where this floral pictorial technique had been invented. Each year, a master florist from that region chooses a specific theme for his work and creates a kaleidoscopic carpet of petals on the elegant Via Nicolaci.
For two days, the whole city becomes a fairytale with floral decorations. The flowers are usually fresh and are grown specifically for the occasion. Barricades are put up to protect the creations from traffic, but once they’re ready, it’s worth navigating the roadblocks to see this unique piece of art for yourself. This year’s theme was China, so the Nicolaci Avenue was covered in various Chinese characters and motifs.
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