May 3, 2024
The BEST FLOWER destinations... around the World!
I think we can all agree that flowers make life more beautiful. And while I’d never turn down a fresh bouquet on the counter… seeing flowers out in nature is just a bit better. The destinations below are known for their flowers and it’s easy to see why! Enjoy
BLUEBONNETS in Texas
Every April, the hills of Eastern Texas turn a deep shade of blue and purple as the Bluebonnet fields spring to life. The prolific wildflowers can be viewed throughout much of Texas Hill Country, but a particularly beautiful stretch can be found near the town of Ennis. Every year, The Ennis Bluebonnet Trail puts together a 40-mile route that is based on the best bloom locations that year. Plus, if you time your visit right, you can also catch the Bluebonnet Festival in town with lots of music, Hill Country wine, and flowers.
PIANO GRANDE in Castelluccia di Norcia, Italy
The tiny town of Castelluccia di Norcia is located near the center of Italy and boasts a population of EIGHT year-round residents. From May to June, the population swells, as people come to view the “Fiorita”, or blooming of the Piano Grande fields. With multiple kinds of wildflowers, the high plain (that is actually the mouth of a dormant volcano!) is filled with shades of yellow, red, white, and violet. Add to that Italian food and wine and THIS sounds like a trip I could get behind!
KEUKENHOF GARDENS in Holland, The Netherlands
Tulips and Holland just go together and at Keukenhof Gardens in the town of Lisse, you can view MILLIONS of them. This garden is the largest in the world and with over 7 million blooming bulbs each season, it’s easy to see why. Open every day from March to May, the season is short, but oh so worth it!
LAVENDER FIELDS in Provence, France
To see the peak bloom, which happens in early July, you would likely be sharing your vacation with lots of French nationals on summer holiday. But adjusting your visit to late June typically allows one to see blooms near peak with much-reduced crowds. To me, a few less blooms, but a lot less people sounds like a perfect trade-off!
THE FLOWER FIELDS in Carlsbad, California
With over 55 acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus, this flower ranch located between LA and San Diego puts on an amazing show from March to early May. Admission to the garden gets you access to a few fun extras too, like the Sweet Pea Maze and the Pothead Garden (flower pots that look like heads, filled with flowers!). This link has all the swoon worthy details, but don’t miss that all tickets must be purchased online BEFORE arrival at the garden.
WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK in South Africa
About an hour outside of Cape Town, the West Coast National Park in South Africa can lay claim to two major flower events! In mid-July, the wildflowers erupt from the mountains to the sea, filling the park with a rainbow of color. About a month later and stretching into September, Canola blooms turn the fields around Cape Town a stunning shade of yellow.
FUJI SHIBAZAKURA FLOWER FESTIVAL in Japan
This spring festival takes place from mid-April through May at the Fuji Motosu Lake Resort about 2 hours outside of Tokyo. Fields of phlox moss flowers are laid out at the base of Mt. Fuji and give the illusion of a carpet of pink. The effect is simply mesmerizing!
LUPINS at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
Lake Tekapo on New Zealands South Island is renowned for fields of flowering lupins in the late spring and early summer, which in the southern hemisphere translates to November and early December. Lupins produce a tall spire of brightly colored flowers in shades of pink, purple, and yellow. Viewing them next to Lake Tekapo paints them against snow-capped peaks and turquoise blue lakes… truly a stunning sight!
CHERRY BLOSSOMS in Washington D.C.
For an achingly brief week or two, the shores of the Tidal Basin glow with the palest shade of pink as the Cherry Blossoms alert everyone that spring has arrived. The hardest part of catching this lovely display is that it is always a moving target. The National Park Service begins their bloom watch in late February but can only predict peak bloom 10 days before it occurs, so spontaneity in travel plans is a must!
So many flowers, so little time! I don’t know about you, but I’d definitely love to experience the bloom of beauty at MANY of these places. If you decide your next trip should include a flower destination, I’d certainly understand why. Until then, enjoy the spring blooms in your own backyard and reach out anytime I could be of service. It is always my pleasure!
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The BEST flower destinations around the world!