Gardener or not, just about anyone can appreciate the wondrous hues of the botanical world, sniffing the subtle fragrances and revelling in natural beauty at yearly flower festivals. Join us as we take you on a stunning journey to witness the best blooms around the world (pollen masks recommended).
By Purnima Shrinivas & Livia Formisani
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Blooming Marvellous: 13 Fabulous Floral Events.
Keukenhof Flower Festival
Keukenhof Flower Festival. Until 17 May. Celebrate 125 years of Vincent Van Gogh at the magnificent Keukenhof garden in South Holland, which transforms into a painting-themed spring wonderland swathed in deliciously scented tulips, crocuses, hyacinths, orchids, carnations, irises, daffodils and a variety of bulbous blooms this season. Don’t miss the expansive Van Gogh self-portrait-inspired tulip plateau and the Tulipomania exhibition. PS
Floralia Brussels. Until 3 May.The 12th-century Kasteel Groot-Bijgaarden comes alive for its 12th season with the largest Belgian assemblage of rhododendrons and English azaleas, plus 500 varieties of tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. On select April weekends, watch Venetian costume parades spice up the scene with performances. PS
RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London. 19 May – 23 May. The Holy Grail of flower shows welcomes visitors with its eclectic collection of concepts – from a Harrods garden to a Sheena Seeks’ fragrance one, and more importantly, a DNA double-helix garden inspired by breast cancer research. With news of a Hope garden by Prince Harry’s charity Sentebale, it might pay to keep a selfie stick handy. PS
Chelsea Fringe, Various Cities. 16 May – 7 June. Not green-fingered? Wondering how a garden grows? There’s plenty alternative and imaginative to answer that including gardening stories and philosophies, advice and remedies, bee factoids, seed bombing workshops, guerilla gardening sessions, pop-up tree goodie knitting clubs, floral flotillas and even music to help your plants grow. And with fringes ruling the roost on fashion runways, there is also an opportunity to get your hair styled in a special ‘Chelsea Fringe’. PS
Floriade, Canberra. 12 September – 11 October. Touted as one of Canberra’s iconic events, it exemplifies a passion for all things gardening in 2015 and delights visitors with its extensive floral showcase. Among this year’s highlights is a groovin’ NightFest featuring live music, laugh-riot-inducing comedy acts and a buzzing night market. PS
Epcot International Flower Festival, Orlando. Until 17 May.Everything assumes magical proportions at the Orlando flower festival. Teeming with eye-catching Disney character topiaries, it’s the kind of place adults and kids won’t mind getting lost in. Tantalising treats and ‘how to’ sessions at the eleven outdoor ‘grow your own’ kitchen gardens will keep your physical and mental appetite satiated as well. PS
Portland Rose Festival. 4 – 5 June.Stop and smell the 4,000 rose blooms at the 127th annual spring show. If you care for something livelier, the floral walks, colourful parades, half marathons and boat races peppering the month offer ample opportunity to play participant and work up a sweat. PS
VA Garden Week, Virginia. 18 April – 25 April.This is, perhaps, the only time of year when you can saunter into a participating private estate in Virginia, explore its picturesque gardens and come away without being prosecuted for trespassing. Featuring more than 250 gardens of historical interest, this 8-day garden tour extravaganza is wish fulfilment for history buffs and green thumbs alike. PS
Kazanlak Rose Festival, Bulgaria. 15 May – 7 June.What started as a simple rose harvesting ritual in the early 18th century has blossomed into a universally recognised celebration in the town of Kazanlak, where some of the world’s most precious rose oil is produced. Expect to take in centuries of tradition with folk dances, songs, feasts, carnivals and scents of your exotic Kazanlashka pickings. PS
Singapore Botanic Gardens. 25 April.Grow a green finger by participating in a workshop and guided tour that shows you how to pot and propagate succulents and grow a fascinating tropical paradise at home. The tour of the Sun Garden is spirit-lifting. PS
Espace pour la vie, Montréal. 22 – 24 May. Whether it’s environmentally friendly activities, insider tips on planning a garden in different light conditions, or biodiversity insights, the Botanical Garden’s Great Gardening weekend and Base Camp/1000 Days of the Planet promise an enlightening and stimulating experience. PS
Dallas Arboretum. 16 May. What’s the one thing every home gardener needs to keep their gardens growing through a hardy season? An enlightening session on drought-tolerant plants, of course. A class on water consciousness and survival, it showcases desert beauties in lucid and brilliant detail. PS
Kawachi Fuji Gardens, Kitakyushu, Japan.Late April – mid-May. Fairy tales are real at Kawachi Fuji Gardens: hard to think otherwise while walking in an actual multi-colour wisteria tunnel, breathing the oh-so delicate scent of the violet, pink and white flowers and expecting to see a fairy fly out anytime from the ethereal bunches. LF
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