
Belgium Trip
April 22-May 1, 2005
April 22/23 |
Brugge, Lies Vandenberghe
Private Garden |
April 24 |
Floralies, Geert Pattijn,
Wirtz Gardens at Hostellerie Shamrock |
April 25 |
Walda Peron, David &
Alice Van Buren Museum |
April 26 |
Royal Greenhouses,
Botanic Gardens Meise, Daniel Ost |
April 27 |
Parc Solvay, Foundation
Folon Museum, Freyr Castle & Gardens |
April 28 |
Gardens of Annevoie,
Petit Leez Castle, Spa |
April 29 |
Spa, Thermes de Spa |
April 30 |
Jehay-Bodgne Castle &
Gardens, Brussels |
April 24th Floralies, Geert
Pattijn, Wirtz Gardens at Hostellerie Shamrock
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Photos courtesy of
Liliane Opsomer |
We met for our departure to Ghent. On the way we visited the highlight of
our tour, Floralies www.floralien.be
Held only once every five years, this was a delight to the senses and eyes
as I am sure you can see by the pictures. This was the 33rd Floralies of
Ghent and it opened April 14th of this year. The lighting is such that you
feel you are walking around the displays on a bright summer day. It was also
wonderful to see that Canada had a display there in their Mosaicultures
exhibit from Montreal. This was the first time mosaicultures were displayed
at Floralies.
Then to the home and design studio of Geert Pattijn, a florist
extraordinaire. After a delightful lunch he then proceeded to show us five
different floral designs.so simple and yet so elegant. A signed book of his,
'Floral Interior Decoration' was our treat to take home to remember his
visit by.
Our final visit of the day was to Wirtz Gardens at Hostellerie Shamrock in
the Flemish Ardennes
www.host-shamrock.be We enjoyed visiting with the owners and a visit to
the garden made by the famous designer Jacques Wirtz - who had even been
asked by Francois Mitterrand to help restore the gardens of the Elysee and
the Tuileries - before setting down to a wonderful dinner. Lit up at night,
the gardens are magical. This was a hunting lodge at one point, built in
1928 for baron de Kemmeter and now has five guestrooms that are all very
posh, befitting the Relais & Chateaux clients.
Our hotel the next three evenings was Hotel Montgomery in Brussels
www.montgomery.be A beautiful
property with 61 luxury rooms and 2 penthouses close to shopping and
sightseeing.
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