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Wednesday, 21 November 2012

5 Coolest Flower Festivals Around The World


Photo:  Sweetlifeinthevalley.blogspot.com

   

Photo: TLC Parentables


  Lets take a look at some of the coolest flower festivals around the world!


1:Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival- Orlando, Florida



Photo: MouseInfo.com

This festival usually runs through March, April and May. It is based in Disney World as Master Gardeners and Florists from around the globe gather to create some of the most amazing floral sculptures ever created. You can see all your favourite Disney characters come to life in the gardens and all around Epcot park.

Photo: CharacterCentral.net



2: Feria de las Flores - Medellin, Colombia


Photo:  NewStraitsTimes

It is said that Colombia supplies as much as 70% of America's purchased flowers. This week long festival was started to celebrate this success in the floral industry. Massive floral arrangements called Silletas are carried through the city to be admired by all. It run's between July 28th and August 7th.

Photo:  MedellinColombiaTours.com



3: The Flower Carpet - Brussels, Belgium 


Photo: Buzzintown

As you can see from the photo this is one massive effort to create a giant carpet from flowers alone. This event which runs bi-annually brings thousands of florists together to create this masterpiece from over 700,000 Begonias.  Belgium has become very well know for producing Begonias as it now produces over 60 million bulbs  a year. The event is held in August of every second year and the design varies hugely each time.

An aerial view of The Flower Carpet:

Photo:chrislizlee.blogspot.ie

Florists working on the Flower Carpet below. Not good for the knee caps!

Photo: news.xinhuanet.com



4: Chelsea Flower Show - Chelsea, London, U.K.



Photo: Brorablog.co.uk

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, formally known as the Great Spring Show is a garden show held for five days in May by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea in Chelsea, London. It is the most famous flower show in the UK and perhaps in the world, attracting visitors from all continents.
Highlights to the Chelsea Flower Show include the avant-garde show gardens designed by leading names with Floral Marquee at the centrepiece. The Show also features smaller gardens such as the Artisan and Urban Gardens.


Photo: sandeedee.blogspot.com


Below is a photograph of David Attenborough with a floral sculpture of himself at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Photo:vancouversun.com





5: Bloom Flower Festival- Dublin, Ireland



photo: designerdublin.ie
Bloom Flower Festival is Ireland's largest gardening show. It is a popular five day event, held each year in Phoenix Park, Dublin. It was first held in 2007 and is organised bu Bord Bia (The Irish Food Board). It is a food and floral festival which is attended by dignitaries including ambassadors, earls and Presidents and not forgetting another 80,000 food and flower enthusiasts. It is half the size of the Chelsea flower show but is still hugely popular. Can't wait for Bloom 2013!

Photo: aindreas.com








Thursday, 15 November 2012

Flower of the Week

Brassica

Source: tumblingshoalsfarm.com

Common Name: Cabbage Rose or Ornamental Cabbage

Botanical Name: Brassica 

Colours: White, Pink or Purple

Origin: Western Europe, Mediterranean and some parts of Asia. 

The Cabbage flower is an unusual addition to a bouquet of flowers mostly because it is not in fact a flower at all but a cabbage plant with beautifully coloured leaves. They thrive in cool weather and are in season in late autumn and winter. Their popularity as a cut flower has increased exponentially in recent years due to its durability and distinguished appearance. Strangely Brassica are an edible plant but not as tasty as their well known cousin, the common cabbage. 

Source: www.gapphotos.com