Top Destinations for Flower Lovers

You might think that the flora and fauna around the globe does not vary substantially. Once you’ve seen a tulip, you’ve seen them all. But this doesn’t account for the genius loci – the spirit of the place. Many foreign lands are steeped in Old World myths that cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Statues, tributes to fallen gods whose names have been effaced by the wind; moldering stone gates, and the sea salt breeze as waves crash ashore – all contribute to a specific mood, molded by centuries of geological forces. 

Below are some of the top destinations where flower enthusiasts can discover why flowers have captured the hearts of poets for millennia. 

1. Keukenhof Gardens – The Netherlands

Known as the “Garden of Europe,” Keukenhof in Lisse, Netherlands, is a carousel of bright color, akin to Disneyland for flower lovers. Open from mid-March to mid-May, this stunning garden is a spectacle of color, with over 7 million tulips in bloom. Tulips may be a common commodity, but those grown on foreign soil often lack the plump elasticity of homegrown variants, nurtured in rich soil for centuries. Just as idyllic is the Dutch countryside, dotted with other spring-faring flowers such as hyacinths, daffodils, and lilies. For those looking to cultivate tulips in their own garden, check out Vego’s online catalogue of flowers. 

2. Provence – France

Preserved in time, Provence is a collection of ancient Roman ruins, fortified villages, cobbled streets, and rustic structures – the quintessential medieval village. From mid-June to mid-August, lavender is king, drenching farms in its jellied purples and contrasting wonderfully with the rustic stone facades. The Washhouses of Pontrieux, in the Côtes-d'Armor department, Brittany, France, also deserves a mention. The approximately 50 washhouses along the Trieux river are a botanical curiosity, decorated with flowers. If you find yourself missing the sights of France, you’ll be delighted to find that lavender propagates easily in raised garden beds. 

3. Butchart Gardens – Canada

What was once the site of a depleted limestone quarry has now been transformed into a lush garden through human ingenuity. Spanning 55 acres of meticulously designed pathways, this centuries-old garden is a quilted patchwork of distinct themes, including a Sunken Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garden, and a Mediterranean Garden. A rosarium, an old-world term for a rose garden, lives up to its poetic grandeur at the Rose Garden, where 30 arches covered in roses proliferate. Create your own rose garden with arched trellises. 

4. The Royal Botanic Gardens – Kew, England

The Victorians may have perfected the art of mourning, but they were also known for their elaborate gardens – crystalline expanses of glass that housed exotics that would otherwise perish in the frigid wilderness. A snapshot of the splendor of the Victorian era at its height, much of the lavishness of those ornate greenhouses can be seen at the Royal Botanic Gardens, located on the outskirts of London. It is the perfect place for those who seek teeming, jungle vistas but don’t want the discomfort of finding themselves within inches of a spider the size of a dinner plate. Much of the effusive greenery is contained and curtailed into winding pathways. The Victorians are now long in their graves, but flowers are forever, especially if you decide to grow in a Victorian-style greenhouse. 

5. Lotusland – Santa Barbara, USA

Many Eastern cultures associated the lotus with divinity, and rightly so. Standing above the muck and mire of earthly desires, the lotus blooms, its petals pristine. The land was purchased and transformed into a garden in the 1940s by a Polish opera singer and socialite, Ganna Walska, and was named after a sacred lotus that blooms in one of the garden’s ponds. Amidst Spanish Colonial Revival style buildings brushed in salmon pink, manicured ferns, towering cacti, and numerous aloe plants contribute to the rustic Mediterranean atmosphere. 

6. Gardens of Versailles – France

Pre-revolutionary France was a land of wild forests, beasts that mauled, and beautiful manor estates. Above them all, the Palace of Versailles towered. While many modern gardeners enjoy the wilder side of nature, the perfected nature of Paris, mastered through the centuries, is irreplicable. For those who wonder what it was like when the French Court was at the zenith of its power, they can catch a glimpse thanks to landscape architect André Le Nôtre in the 17th century – meticulously manicured hedges, grand fountains, and classical sculptures coexist languidly alongside a wide array of flowers that bloom throughout the seasons.

7.  St Dunstan in the East – London, United Kingdom

After the Church of St Dunstan was devastated in the Blitz of 1941 and was never rebuilt, the tendrils of nature took root, reclaiming it. Although the church is now a hollow shell of the building it used to be, there is a certain melancholy beauty to ruined places. The dominion of nature over manmade structures has transmuted the surroundings into hallowed ground, a testament to the faith of the martyrs of Europe that gave their lives to the war. In a world where peace and quiet are luxuries, it offers a much-needed respite from the outside turmoil. 

8. The Flower Fields – Carlsbad, California, USA

At first glance, it’s easy to overlook floral destinations and think, “Why visit if I can look at pictures on the Internet?” While browsing pictures is certainly cost-efficient, it pales significantly to the real thing. From March through May, colorful swirls of ranunculus flowers in a rainbow of shades populate the Flower Fields of Carlsbad. Ranunculus may seem lackluster and old-fashioned, but it’s rare to find them amassed all in one place, contributing to a rare, indie feel. A tapestry of other blooms, including sweet peas, larkspur, and carnations, contribute to a soothing visual profile.