People in all ages have admired the beauty of flowers. In many countries, a tradition has developed to arrange holidays (Germany, France, the Netherlands and others) in honor of these amazing creatures of nature. Belgium is no exception. Tourists from all over the world come to see her floral carpet.
To create compositions of flowers in the form of some kind of ornament was invented by the landscape designer E. Stautemans in the 50s of the last century. He presented them for all to see in the cities of Knock, Lille, San Nicolas. Although these floral works were very popular with the public, they were small in size. For the first time in its current form, a floral carpet was created in the capital of Belgium in front of the city hall in 1971.
And since then, a tradition has emerged to decorate the central square of Brussels in this way once every two years in honor of the Flower Festival, which takes place in August. Experienced gardeners lay out on the pavement a variety of designs from many, creating a unique in its beauty and spectacle "living canvas", which, due to its multicolor and patternedness, has received the name of the Brussels flower carpet.
The creation of this masterpiece is preceded by a huge amount of work. First, the main "characters" are grown - begonias. They were chosen not only for their rich palette of colors and numerous varieties, but also for their ability to withstand adverse weather conditions. However, for these flowers to reach the peak of their beauty, it takes about two years.
A year before the holiday, a theme for a carpet of flowers is invented and selected. It can be some kind of event, the coat of arms of the city, and much more. For example, in 2008, the creators of the floral tapestry were inspired by French ornaments of the 18th century, in 2010 - by the mysteries of Europe's past, and in 2012 - by the culture and national colors of the tribes of the African continent.
Once a theme has been chosen, the number of colors and color combinations is calculated and sketches are made on the ground to implement it. The day before the start of the celebration, designers, gardeners and volunteers start work. They are the ones who will “weave” a floral canvas with an original pattern in the center of Brussels in a few hours. First, the green parts of the carpet are laid out with lawn grass, and only then - the floral patterns.
Although there is a tradition of spreading flower canvases in many countries of the world, none of them can be compared in grace and beauty with a Brussels floral carpet. This miracle of floristry, illuminated in the evening, creates an atmosphere of magic, a fairy tale and is one of the most colorful, beautiful and exciting spectacles.
