Birthday
HydrangeasFlower parks and fields are a reason to travel in their own right: Dutch tulips, Provençal lavender, Japan's wisteria tunnels. We have gathered the best-known places to see the bloom in person, noted which season to go, and explained where the real flower plantations are — the ones that supply roses and tulips for bouquets.
Flowers from these plantations can be ordered in Kyiv too: imported roses, Kenyan roses and seasonal tulips.
Keukenhof, the Netherlands
Keukenhof in Lisse is the world's best-known spring garden. Around 7 million tulip, daffodil, hyacinth and other bulbs are planted every year across about 32 hectares. The park is open for only about eight weeks, from mid-March to mid-May. Around it, in the Bollenstreek region, commercial tulip fields bloom in April.
Dubai Miracle Garden, UAE
The Miracle Garden opened in the desert on 14 February 2013. It is known for huge floral installations of petunias, marigolds, calendula and other annuals; some, such as a full-size Airbus A380 structure, have entered Guinness World Records. Plants are watered with treated wastewater through drip irrigation. The garden opens from autumn to spring and closes in summer because of the heat.
Lavender fields of Provence, France
Lavender and lavandin bloom from mid-June to late July, usually peaking in early July. The most famous spots are the Valensole plateau and Sénanque Abbey. Harvesting starts in mid-July, so the first half of the month is the best time to go. Do not walk into private farm fields without permission; there are designated areas for photos.
The Butchart Gardens, Canada
The Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, about 20 km from Victoria, were created by Jennie Butchart from 1904 in a worked-out limestone quarry. Today they cover about 22 hectares of themed gardens — Sunken, Japanese, Italian and Rose — and are a National Historic Site of Canada. They are open all year: bulbs in spring, roses in summer and festive lights in December.
Kawachi Fujien and Hitachi, Japan
The private Kawachi Fujien garden in Kitakyushu is famous for its tunnels of wisteria in different shades. They bloom from late April to mid-May, when entry is by advance ticket only. At Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture, nemophila forms a blue carpet in spring, and round kochia bushes turn red in October.
Where bouquet flowers are grown
Tourist gardens are just the shop window. Cut flowers are grown on commercial plantations and in greenhouses, then shipped worldwide through auctions and wholesalers:
- The Netherlands — greenhouse roses, tulips, chrysanthemums and the world's main flower auction. See our article on the Dutch flower auction.
- Kenya — roses from farms around Lake Naivasha at about 1,900 m: sunny equatorial weather and cool nights produce firm buds.
- Ecuador — roses grown in the Andes at 2,500–3,000 m, known for large heads and long stems.
- Colombia — carnations, chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and roses from farms around Bogotá.
Where to see the bloom in Ukraine
- Spivoche Pole, Kyiv — spring tulip shows and summer flower displays.
- M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden, Kyiv — magnolias and lilacs in April–May.
- Valley of Daffodils, Zakarpattia — a natural stand of narrow-leaved daffodils near Khust, blooming late April to May.
- Sofiyivka, Uman — a late-18th-century landscape park, beautiful in any season.
- Lavender farms in various regions — bloom in late June and July.
Check current opening times before you go: bloom dates shift every year depending on the weather.
FAQ
When is the best time to visit Keukenhof?
For tulips, mid to late April. Early in the season there are more daffodils and crocuses; in May, late tulips.
Can I pick flowers in the fields?
No. Fields and gardens are private property or protected areas. Take photos from the paths and designated spots.
Where do roses sold in Ukraine come from?
Mostly from Kenya, Ecuador and the Netherlands, with some from Ukrainian greenhouse growers.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
