What’s that old saying? April showers bring May flowers? Well, April was not a typical month in Europe. The weather has been wacky! We started the month with a surprise snowfall. Really? And it seemed so much drier than last April, but unseasonably cold. In fact, it was the coldest spring in 35 years! Yes, I am whining, which is hard to believe after living through seven winters in Minnesota.
May hasn’t started out much better in Belgium. Gale force winds moved across the country this week, blowing down trees and forcing closure of some parks. And it looks like 10 days of rain. Ugh! Across the channel in England, heavy hail, rains, cold temperatures and winds dampened people’s spirits and delayed some garden planting.
Late Bloomers
The colder temperatures also delayed spring flowers. My garden is a perfect example of that. But now that the May flowers are blooming, color is bursting out everywhere. Pink and white flowers are in full bloom in the area’s orchards. And cherry blossoms turned the Japanese Garden in Hasselt into a pink paradise.
Belgium’s organized floral displays and gardens are spectacular. They are carefully choreographed and curated. My two favorites are the month-long Floralia at Groot Bijgaarden and the Japanese Garden in Hasselt.
Although Floralia closed for the season this week, a drive past the historic castle shows that flowers are still in bloom. By the time Floralia returns next year, Americans should be able to travel to Belgium. What a relief!
Discover a Flemish Renaissance Castle and Garden
The 17th century Kasteel van Groot Bijgaarden will be a great addition to your 2022 travel itinerary. Pencil in the 19th annual Floralia onto your travel calendar now. It’s only 4.35 miles away from Brussels and gives you an opportunity to see a traditional castle, complete with a deep-water moat, an ancient tower and scenic bridges. My personal favorite bridge is at the of the cobblestone road leading to the castle. Here you’ll find large, imposing lions carved from stone that welcome visitors at the entrance.
You quickly get a sense of history and wonder. Donjon, a tower on the 35-acre grounds, is even older than the castle. It dates back to the mid-1300s. Add a walk to the top to your adventure. Climb four levels of stairs for the panoramic view of Brussels and even the Atomium.
Drama Moved Outdoors
In years past, there were floral displays inside Donjon. This year, due to COVID-19, there were none. Sigh. Gone, too, were the breathtaking floral displays inside the greenhouses. And the chapel, in the right wing of the castle, was also closed this year. It usually features a spectacular display of orchids of every variety. This year, the drama was just outdoors.
Even the cafeteria and beverage stands were closed due to COVID restrictions. We missed some great mojitos!
A Bit of Japan in Belgium
Another great garden adventure is found in Limburg, an eastern province. Cherry blossom season at Hasselt’s Japanese Garden runs throughout the month of April, but the garden is open throughout the year. Off-season it is especially tranquil. A roaring waterfall, meandering waterways filled with koi and attractive plantings beckon visitors. It’s small, but it packs a punch for serenity. There’s a tiny beach where the koi seem to gather before heading back upstream. You can watch them lakeside or from the bridge above.
The garden’s website claims it is Limburg’s biggest tourist attraction, ideal for the nature-loving visitors who flock to Flanders. And it’s Europe’s largest Japanese garden.
There is an authentic pavilion with a lovely tea room. They also schedule events here, when it’s not pandemic time. Behind an area of pink blossoming trees, you’ll discover a peace bell that kids love to chime. Okay, grown-ups like it, too. But the best part of a visit is just calming walking along the trails or sitting on a bench and enjoying the escape from city life, if only for an hour or so.
Again, you’ll have to wait until next year for the blossoms to return. But don’t fret. All should return to normal next year, fingers crossed!
