Blooming Marvellous

THE Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, named by Architectural Digest as one of the "15 Breathtaking Botanical Gardens to Visit This Season," presents Dallas Blooms, the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest, from February 23 to 

April 7. 

Themed "Life's A Picnic," the spring festival showcases an explosion of color from more than 500,000 spring-blooming blossoms, thousands of azaleas and hundreds of Japanese cherry trees. Presented by IBERIABANK, Dallas Blooms features an extraordinary, larger-than-life, picnic scene topiary comprised of a stunning 40'x40' picnic blanket, a vase of flowers, a picnic basket with pie and a giant picnic ant—perfect for photo opportunities.

The nationally acclaimed eight-acre Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden features 17 indoor/outdoor galleries, 150 interactive science games and an abundance of themed adventures throughout the Dallas Blooms festival.

www.dallasarboretum.org/blooms

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Cultivating tourism

TOP journalists and bloggers from Germany – representing various print and online publications with a combined readership of almost 3 million people, or potential German holidaymakers – are exploring the wonderful gardens in Ireland’s Ancient East this week, as guests of Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

Their action-packed itinerary includes some of Ireland’s top gardens – such as the Patthana Garden in Kiltegan, Hardymount Gardens near Tullow, Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum near Inistioge; the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore and Coolcarrigan House & Gardens near Naas.

Earlier this year, Tourism Ireland launched a new strategy to boost tourism from Germany, setting out challenging and ambitious targets which will see the island of Ireland welcome 800,000 German visitors per year by 2021

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Picture credit: By Guinan5799 - Own work, via commons.wikimedia.org 50736452

Gardens continue to grow in popularity

GARDENS and zoos saw the most significant growth in visitors to attractions last year, according to VisitEngland’s Annual Attractions Survey published earlier this month.

The survey, which gathered information from more than 1,500 English attractions, found that historic houses and castles reported a 7% increase in visitor numbers, and country parks a 4% increase. Outdoor attractions performed particularly well, with gardens and zoos showing growth of 8%.

In line with VisitEngland’s Great Britain Tourism Survey results, coastal and rural attractions experienced strong growth of 4% and 5% respectively.

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New Public Garden for Holyroodhouse

THE Royal Collection Trust has announced plans to make a new public garden at the Palace of #Holyroodhouse in #Edinburgh, inspired by the 17th-century physic garden that was once within the Palace grounds.

The original garden, created to teach students about the medicinal properties of plants and to provide pharmacists with fresh materials, was the first of its kind in Scotland and the second botanic garden to be established in Britain. The origins of today's Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh can be traced back to this historic Palace garden.

The garden will be created in the 2,500m² area behind the Abbey Strand buildings, which by the end of 2018 will house a new Learning Centre. At the same time, the Palace's Forecourt will be opened up to the public. Each of these projects is part of Future Programme, the £10-million investment by Royal Collection Trust to transform the experience of visiting Edinburgh's Royal Palace.

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Google Maps Adds Cherry Blossom Icons

CHERRY blossom trees in Tokyo started to bloom on the 26th of March, and are expected to be in their peak bloom, known as “mankai” in Japanese, this week between the 2nd and 8th of April

To coincide with the cherry blossom season in #Japan this year, Google Maps has added cherry blossom icons to its maps of Japan for a limited time only. 

The icons are displayed on popular cherry blossom-viewing spots such as parks, rivers and castle grounds, and are designed to help potential blossom enthusiasts locate a suitable spot for their flower-viewing activities.

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Alan Titchmarsh to open Blenheim Palace Flower Show

ALAN Titchmarsh is to open this year's Blenheim Palace Flower Show (June 23-25).  A record number of floral and garden exhibitors will be taking part again this year at the palace’s fifth flower show at the World Heritage site in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, which was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Advanced tickets are priced from £12 for adults and £5.00 for children. Concessions and family tickets are also available.

www.blenheimflowershow.co.uk

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Family friendly events at Wakehurst

WAKEHURST is a beautiful botanic garden in West Sussex, managed by Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and sitting in an Area of Outstanding Beauty on the High Weald near Haywards Heath. 

Set in 535 acres of country estate, Wakehurst is home to ornamental gardens, stunning woodlands, a nature reserve, and a spectacular Elizabethan mansion. Learn about the amazing conservation work of Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, natural play spaces for children including new log trail (Treetrunk Trek) and mud kitchen.

Some of the family friendly events coming up:

Woodland secrets Easter egg trail: April 8 – 17
Stunning bluebell displays from late April to mid-May
Wild Wood festival: May 27 – 29

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Flowering Glory: Hanami in Japan

TOBU Railway’s massive network extends through #Tokyo as well as four surrounding prefectures: Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, and Gunma. 

With 463.3 kilometers of operating track, Tobu is Kanto’s largest private railway and is used by commuters, students, business travelers, and tourists. 

Tobu Railway will debut its new limited express service in the spring of 2017 for visitors to capture the most of #hanami (flower-viewing) in Japan.

• Ashikaga Flower Park’s major feature is it's 150 year old wisteria.

• Tsutsujigaoka Park with its long-standing history and the over-800-year-old azalea. 

• Sumida Park is one of Tokyo’s best cherry blossom spots. The park is located near Senso-ji temple and TOKYO SKYTREE, the world’s highest tower.

• Tobu Treasure Garden’s moss phlox offer a vast, pink carpet-like view Approximately 200,000 moss phloxes in this garden bloom in all glory during April. 

• Satte Gongendo’s bank of cherry trees, a place boasting around 1,000 cherry trees, where visitors can enjoy a tunnel of cherry blossoms. 

• Tsurugajo Castle Park with around 1,000 cherry trees adorning Tsurugajo Castle, with cherry blossoms reflecting on the moat’s water at night.

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Floral Funchal

MADEIRA'S flower scene is bursting with colour throughout the winter and spring. For those keen to take advantage of the warm temperatures – which average a comfortable 20C+ - Prestige Holidays has a selection of late offers and early booking discounts to the Capital of Portugal’s floating garden isle.

The charming converted manor house Quinta das Vistas stands in substantial gardens atop a hill overlooking Funchal and is famed for its gourmet cuisine. It also offers an extensive spa facility with a range of treatments as well as Jacuzzi, sauna and a Turkish Bath.

The luxurious family run Quinta da bela Vista is a five-star property ideal for couples who want to explore the nature trails behind the hotel as well as take in the city sights of Funchal, which is a 10 minute complimentary shuttle ride from the property. Guests can also pop over to the neighboring island for lunch and a Spa treatment at sister hotel Port Santo.

The super stylish Royal Savoy has an oceanfront location with huge terraces boasting uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean, plus an extensive range of facilities including two outdoor seawater pools, a health suite, games room, internet corner, cocktail bar and various dining choices; so much so, the hotel feels like an upmarket cruise liner.

www.prestigeholidays.co.uk

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24th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival to welcome in Spring

THE festival, which expanded to 90 days in 2016, will open with an irresistible array of fresh surprises and new treats and runs from March 1 to May 29 with gardens of earthly delights plus new character topiaries, entertainers and food and drink offerings.

Dozens of Disney-crafted “flower towers” and beds of multi-colored blooms will transform the park’s landscape. At least 70,000 bedding plants will surround the Future World east and west lakes alone; on the water, 220 mini-gardens will be set afloat.

As the festival nears, more details will be available at epcotinspring.com. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

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Picture Credit: Jeff Krause Photography 47125846@N08/7049792537 Epcot - Who Let The Dog Out? via photopin

Blooming good offer from DFDS

THE Dutch Bulbfields mini cruise package on its Newcastle to #Amsterdam route. The experience gives customers a chance to visit Keukenhof’s landscaped gardens, which display more than seven million bulbs of 800 varieties on a 32 hectare site from March to May each year.

Prices for the mini cruise package start from £111 per person, based on two people sharing an en suite cabin. It includes two nights of accommodation on board the Newcastle to Amsterdam cruise ferries, plus coach transfers and entrance to #Keukenhof with up to three-and-a-half hours to explore the gardens.

Bookings can be made until 14 May 2017 at for travel between March 23 and May 15, when the gardens are open.

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Picture Credit: MollyMaison 94535327@N07/27104538836 Keukenhof, Garden of Europe via photopin

124,000 blooms set to blossom for the 2016 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

THE 67th Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers runs from September 16-25 this year with a programme of headliners in music, food, wine, flowers and gardening making it one of the country's most amazing events.

Since it began in 1949 the annual event has flourished and is now one of Queenslands stand out events featuring more than 50 unique events and experiences including internationally acclaimed musical acts, award winning parks, some of the best food and wine to be found in Southern Queensland and a multitude of cultural adventures.

Laurel bank III

#Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said the Carnival was and would continue to be a standout event on the Australian calendar.  “ With 67 years of floral magic under its belt, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers continues to build audiences and extend programming parameters, both important milestones as a leading event for locals and visitors alike,” he said. 

“This year’s floral program is one of the best, promising breathtaking displays of botanic brilliance across floral exhibits, fresh flower markets, glorious garden tours, floristry competitions and more. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Toowoomba in September.” 

Image courtesy of Tourism&Events QLD

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Picture Credit: Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, Tourism&Events QLD