Below, we spotlight some of our favorite classic and emerging destinations in central Connecticut– in particular, West Hartford, where new luxury hotel offerings, lovely gardens, and an incredible local food network continues to evolve and inspire.

Artisan West Hartford

Fresh off its one year anniversary, Artisan West Hartford continues to inspire patrons with finessed neo-New England fare served inside of what is, no doubt, a real-life version of The Secret Garden. Located in the heart of Blue Back Square at the Delamar Hotel, Artisan is open 7 days a week and features an expansive 1500 square feet of outdoor pergola and garden space– the first of its kind in the region.

Designed by gardener Renee Giroux (of Bouley Botanical fame), the concept is about as wholesome and idyllic as it gets: chefs grow the vegetables they cook with in the garden that surrounds the restaurant, harvesting items like patty pan squash, eggplants, and tomatoes just moments before they are cooked into elevated dishes that are served to diners in the same garden where they grew. (That’s about as farm-to-table as it gets.)

Executive Chef Frederic Kieffer’s menu is influenced by the seasons and as such is constantly changing, but Fall 2018 patrons should look out for the restaurant’s stellar crab meat and tomatillo gazpacho, which features a bed of succulent crab meat topped with avocado sorbet and a gorgeous bright green soup that they pour table side for added flourish. Seafood dishes, moreover, are excellent, while the wine list is selected with aplomb and dessert is thoughtful and tailor-made (items like local salted caramel goat cheesecake are offered alongside homemade ice cream and olive oil cake).

Those organic ingredients that cannot be supplied by the on site garden are sourced from area farms, so that Artisan can continue to offer fresh, artful cuisine year-round. In design as well as in practice, Artisan honors local craftsmanship and agriculture by paying homage to Central Connecticut’s tobacco farms with a series of oversized murals featuring flowering tobacco plants that echo the lushness and intimacy of the garden just outside. The result is a setting that is refined yet welcoming. To quote the restaurant itself: “The ambiance of a lush, romantic garden is transportive.”

Artisan West Hartford, 1 Memorial Rd, West Hartford, CT 06107

Elizabeth Park Conservancy (Hartford)

Elizabeth Park Conservancy is a 102-acre historical city park listed in the National Register of Historic Places that straddles both Hartford and West Hartford– a shared gem among the two municipalities. With a beautiful dahlia garden, a charming duck pond, and a world-class rose garden on site, it’s a great place to take the kids or dogs out for an afternoon spent in nature, and a lovely spot to run, walk, or picnic amongst the flowers.

The Elizabeth Park Rose Garden is the oldest rose garden in America– renown for its lush alleys of blooming heritage roses and it’s copious, expertly maintained espalier. Visitors to the garden can enjoy a meal at the nearby Pond House Cafe (which also hosts events and weddings) or do as the locals and get a takeaway lunch from Popover (see below) to enjoy a perfect outdoor meal in the park.

Elizabeth Park Conservancy, 2804, 1561 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117

The Delamar Hotel & Spa (West Hartford)

Part of what makes Artisan so appealing is The Delamar Hotel, where the restaurant is situated. Not only is the Delamar the area’s premiere luxury hotel destination (featuring the work of local artists, a delicious complimentary breakfast, and local transportation services powered by a Tesla) but the on-site Spa is fabulous, offering a variety of bespoke esthetician services powered by Biologique Recherche and Valmont skin care products.

Services at The Delamar Spa range from non-invasive facelift treatments that use triple micro-current technology to manual lymphatic drainage, collagen eye masks, blow outs and deep conditioning treatments, and deep tissue massage, all of which are administered by highly trained, friendly staff. Many of the spa treatments also take place on an Amethyst BioMat, which offers the benefits of far infrared heating, which is thought to improve circulation, immune function, and fight inflammation.

The Medspa at the Delamar, meanwhile, offers Coolsculpting, Botox, Juvederm, and Kybella, among other medically approved health and beauty treatments. Locals can get treatments before heading down to Artisan for the perfect stay-cation, but visitors to the area will also enjoy the relaxed, restorative offerings.

Delamar West Hartford, 1 Memorial Road, West Hartford, CT 06107

Popover Bistro & Bakery (Simsbury)

We’ve had many good popovers in our day– but none seemingly as inspired and inventive as those sold at Popover Bistro & Bakery in Simsbury. Popover’s Mission is synonymous with its name: they specialize in popovers (again: why doesn’t every city have one of these?!) and salads that are made from farm-fresh ingredients daily.

Popover aims to source local, healthy, organic products whenever possible, and they take special care to create allergy-conscious food with universal appeal. Fortunately, the bakery is also open late (as far as bakeries are concerned, 8 PM is late) and on the weekends. It’s a truly modern operation that knows what it does well, which is why people keep coming back.

Popover Bistro & Bakery, 928 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT 06070

Millwright’s Restaurant and Tavern (Simsbury)

Since 2012, Millwright’s has been serving seasonally inspired New England cuisine that includes micro-gastro triumphs like Chef Tyler’s signature tapioca custard, “All The Flavors of Clam Chowder,” which is now a guest favorite. Special care is also given to actively use ingredients that would have been available in New England historically– and with the exception of citrus and a few seasonal necessities that can’t be grown in the winter, they’ve done a pretty good job of sticking to their source bioregion.

The post West Hartford Aims to Be Connecticut’s Next Foodie Paradise appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

Image via Starhotels Milan Echo

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Starhotels Milan E.c.ho.

Starhotels Milan E.c.ho. is a luxe, minimalist, eco-friendly hotel located right next to Milano Centrale, a mere 3.2 km from Milan Cathedral, aka Duomo. What better way to explore one of the world’s most fashionable cities than to commune in a beautiful green hotel? With 143 chic rooms that don’t skimp on the creature comforts, you can feel good about knowing that your room has been furnished with recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, energy-efficient heating and lighting systems and a garden terrace for minimal environmental impact. Rooms come with free Wi-Fi and a lovely breakfast is also complimentary, featuring fresh local produce, meats, and artisan cheeses and eggs as well a suite of locally-made baked goods.

We love the stylish bar and the gorgeous rooftop fitness center with panoramic city views– but above all we love the hotel’s dedication to true sustainability, even in the smallest details. Hotel wallpaper boasts a “Nordic Ecolabel” certification while all paper-based materials are certified with the FSC. External walls are thermo-insulated, while stoneware flooring features a “Livegreen” certification, and floor corridor carpeting has a “Solution Q” certification. hot water is produced by cooling plant heat recovery and grey water is recovered for WC flushing and plant irrigation. To top it all off, the space is beautiful– exactly the kind of refine elegance you’d expect of a dream Italian getaway, without the negative impact on the environment. What could be better?

LùBar

LùBar‘s unique brand of slow street food is a little unusual for Milan– a city that loves long, luxurious, multi-course dining. But with easily accessible locations on via Palestro and in Milano Centrale (Central Station), the cafe and coffee bar is accruing more and more attention from locals and tourists alike. LùBar has what is, in our opinion, the best avocado toast in the city, and beautiful botanical decor that keeps popping up on Instagram.

Villa Necchi Campiglio

Villa Necchi Campiglio is the beautiful estate and garden featured in Luca Guadagnino’s I Am Love thriller featuring Tilda Swinton and music by Radiohead’s Thom Yorke. Today, Villa Necchi is an oasis of calm in the centre of Milan, featuring a beautiful villa built between 1932 and 1935 by architect Piero Portaluppi, as well as a swimming pool, garden, and tennis court that belonged to Angelo Campiglio and his family– a prominent Lombard industrial family. The decor as well as the garden have been maintained in the style that would have featured prominently in the villa in the 1930s.

Joia

Joia‘s “high vegetarian cuisine” is a rare find in veal-obsessed Milan, but Michelin-starred chef Pietro Leemann handles vegetables with aplomb. Expect a micro-gastronomic take on rich European haute flavors, as well as flawless plating and the best and most colorful local produce that Milan has to offer. Enthusiastic parties should make a reservation for weekends or during tourist season, as there can be a wait.

Bosco Verticale

Bosco Verticale is a landmark that every “green” lover should see on a trip to Milan. Located in Milan’s Porto Nuova district, this pair of tree-covered residential buildings contains more than 900 trees! Originally designed to fight air pollution, the buildings have become a tourist attracting in their own right, standing as a symbol of the way in which Italy’s architects are setting an example for how to live in concert with nature without destroying the city’s architectural past. Principle architects include Stefano Boeri, Giovanni La Varra, and Gianandrea Barreca, who won the International Highrise Award for this achievement in 2014.

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Fondazione Prada

Fondazione Prada is an interactive art exposition space dedicated to preserving and championing what is considered some of the most future-forward art in Italy– which is to say that it is a little eccentric, conceived around the idea of promoting “dialogues with acclaimed contemporary artists.”

Since 1995, Fondazione Prada has been co-chaired by Miuccia Prada (she of the clothing line) and Patrizio Bertelli, who together organized over 24 world-class solo shows at various exhibition spaces around Milan until they opened this permanent space in the city in 2015.

Bar Luce

Milan has no shortage of trendy bars, but the Wes Anderson-designed Bar Luce might be the most special. Located just inside the Fondazione Prada, the cafe features a set of Bill Murray-inspired pinball machines, retro wallpaper, and even a jukebox, the culmination of which make the place feel like the set of a real Wes Anderson movie. The sandwich menu and bakery are also excellent– opt for a slice of the iconic “pink” Bar Luce cake, order an espresso, and bask in the perfect afternoon.

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Terra

The best grass-fed gelato in Milan can be found at Terra, whose name– “earth”– is the operating credo. One might think that all gelato in Italy is local, but not all of it is produced from antibiotic-free, grass-fed cows. Not so at Terra, which was recently voted the best gelato in Milan. You can’t go to Italy without experiencing boutique gelato, right?

God Save The Food

This trendy neighborhood staple is a great place to go for a modern take on locavore food. God Save The Food is a young Milano’s preferred hang out, with heathy veggie-heavy options with an Italian twist. Try the fresh, local caprese salad or their ricotta-filled take on a burrito, or simple opt for a colorful green salad with fresh avocado and turmeric-olive oil dressing (you get the idea). Stay for the people watching at the Brera location– it’s very young and hip.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlfLcKTAZ-a/?taken-by=cecmilano

C & C Milano

For gorgeous objet and conscious, local design, visitors to the city need go no further than C&C Milano, one of the city’s original design hubs known for their incredible, elegant linens, ceramics, and assorted homewares. Whether shopping for home, a hospitality environment, or (lucky you!) a yacht, C&C has all your design needs taken care of– from their rich archive of locally made heritage textiles to the timeless wallpapers and accessories that keep design lovers coming back for generations.

The post Where to Spend a Weekend in Milan appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

The fifth-generation hotel and spa is currently helmed by natural skin care innovator Susanne Kaufmann, who conceived the spa as a place where nature, wellness, and culture collide.

The property is now home to a variety of nature-inspired features and amenities, including an on-site gourmet restaurant featuring the best of regional cuisine; a chestnut garden; a sunbathing meadow; a bathhouse and sun deck; a garden sauna; an aromatic herb garden; a yoga studio with the most stunning view of the mountains; and world-class indoor and outdoor tennis facilities used by the European Tennis Academy.

The hotel has 58 rooms and suites that are uniquely designed to incorporate natural materials that are found in the Bregenzerwald area, from wood and leather features to pine-stuffed pillows to felt and hand-woven linen accouterments that give each room an elegant, minimalist feel– but perhaps the biggest draw is the incredible on-site spa and bathhouse, helmed by Kaufmann herself.

Capitalizing on the abundance of Alpine plants to create innovative modern treatments, the Susanne Kaufmann Spa is staffed by a team of pharmacists and dermatologists who combine local healing traditions with Eastern wellness philosophy. All treatments are plant-based using over 60 products from Kaufmann’s signature line, from the innovative St. John’s Wort Calming Bath Salts to the luxurious Nutrient Concentrate, which contains essences of marigold and thistle oil.

The spa itself has an almost Feng shui devotion to incorporating natural elements into the decor: brilliant glass walls emit abundant mountain sunshine, and open-air sunroofs infuse the kind of fresh Alpine air that visitors to the area rave about. Those interested in all-natural skin care will love getting their treatments straight from the source.

And then, of course, there’s the view.

Austria is renowned for its beautiful mountain vistas and super clean air, and at Hotel Post Bezau, guests can enjoy both without even having to leave the comfort of their bedrooms (though with thousands of miles of biking, running, and hiking trails at the hotel’s disposal, they’ll definitely want to).

Guests can participate in hotel organized activities or venture out on their own– time seems to stand still here, and the days culminate in the longest, most dazzling sunsets that last, in the summer, until around 9 PM.

The bathing pools, like the rest of the property, look out onto the mountains and feature a suite of innovative features, including a brine pool, a whirlpool, infused saunas, and a rotating cast of alkaline peels and other daily offerings that take place in the steam bath.

Back at the spa, travel skin care kits and hand soaps, divine smelling lotions and anti-aging teas line the shelves in the main foyer, which branches off into treatment rooms where guests can receive medicinal healing baths, body wraps, massages, facials, pedicures, scalp treatments, and a dozens of other healing treatments experienced in conjunction with the baths. The exhaustive spa menu reads like a wellness obsessive’s daydream: alkaline facials, Dorn Breuss massage, Mallow blossom bubble baths, and more.

The hotel also offers yoga and Qi Gong in some of the most beautiful glass-walled rooms we’ve ever seen– a feature that is pulled through to the conference rooms with the same view.

Overall, from the Susanne Kaufmann Spa to the stunning views outside every window on the property, the inherent joy of Hotel Post Bezau is that every aspect begins and ends with nature– and for a wellness resort in the Alps, that’s exactly how it should be.

Interested in more hot travel tips? Check out our review of Auberge du Soliel in Napa Valley, consult our Weekend Guide to Tulum, or gaze behind-the-scenes at Beldi Country Club in Marrakesh.

The post Organic Spa, Local Food, Incredible View: Austria’s Hotel Post Bezau Has It All appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

As defined on NYBG’s website, the New York City EcoFlora project “seeks to engage the public as citizen scientists to observe, collect, and compile information about the City’s plants and their relationships with other organisms, such as birds, insects, and mushrooms, and to combine these data with all that is already known from natural history collections and scientific publications.”

After a successful first year, they’re celebrating the many citizen scientists who have made this impressive documentation process possible.

“The New York City EcoFlora is a real-time, online, ongoing checklist of plants– the first ever to connect plants in the web of life in New York City– that will result in a dynamic resource for conservation planning as well as in New Yorkers that are better informed about the importance of urban ecologies and who can contribute to protecting them,” its organizers write.

For more information or to register for this year’s EcoFlora conference, visit NYBG’s website.

The post New York Botanical Garden Announces First-Annual EcoFlora Conference appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

Each year, as the cold loosens its grip on the air, daffodils announce the arrival of spring in the pavilion gardens. Soon come the brightly colored hyacinths and tulips, the whistle of the tufted titmice, and the cheery sounds of robins, cardinals and blue jays.

But it was not always this way. When Thomas Jefferson drew up plans for the Academical Village (see this issue’s retrospect “The Gardens, According to Plan”), he left the gardens blank, for private use by the faculty members living in each pavilion. According to UVA landscape architect Mary Hughes (Arch ’87), “They did anything they wanted in the back there. If they were gardeners, they could have a garden. If they weren’t gardeners, in most cases they ultimately filled up with outbuildings and smokehouses, slave quarters, utility buildings.”

It wasn’t until the 1950s and 1960s, when the Garden Club of Virginia undertook  to reinvent them, that the pavilion gardens became the colonial revival gardens that generations have known. The group brought in renowned landscape architects from Colonial Williamsburg to reimagine gardens Jefferson might recognize, using landscape fashion and plants from his time.

They also opened the gardens to the public—though that’s not always clear, says Zach Root, a landscaper who works in the east gardens. Sometimes students and tourists “don’t really get that they’re public, because they don’t look it—gates and walls and things.”

Still, thousands make their way to the gardens each spring. Landscaper Shannon Adams says she sees gardeners from all over the country who come to talk about plants; others come to celebrate weddings or the end of the school year; locals come to walk their dogs; and students come to sling up hammocks.

Adams says she loves working in the heart of Grounds, hearing and seeing a bit of everything that goes on. Here, we offer our readers farther afield a look at what she and others saw this spring.

Below images courtesy of The University of Virginia Magazine © 2018.

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Featuring beautiful detail shots and other images by Gabriela Herman, the article explores everything from Daisy’s unique eye for garden aesthetics to the romantic plantings within, which reminisce of everything from her travels through Europe to her favorite children’s book, The Secret Garden. Visitors to the page can glean insight on our founder’s favorite “messy-yet-structured” approach to garden design, which informs not only this particular garden’s virtue but that of our magazine, as well.

Read the entire piece and check out the lovely photos now, via Martha Stewart Living.

The post Check Out Our Founder’s Garden in <em>Martha Stewart Living</em> appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

Today, this West Texas outpost is favorite destination for art lovers, who flock to the dessert in order to explore The Chinati Foundation– an art museum conceived around the ideas of Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Robert Chamberlain, with a rotating cast of others exhibited in various buildings around Marfa.

Others come for the very instagrammable quirky vibe and relaxed sense of community– which is why photos of Prada Marfa and various other  Marfa-based art pop-ups and fashion shoots have been popping up on Instagram over the course of the last several years.

On a recent trip to Marfa, our staff observed people renovating a bungalow with integrity, using chicly appropriate landscaping that was respectful of and suitable for the climate. We enjoyed walking the streets coffee in hand as the occasional tumbleweed blew by– taking in the natural beauty that is so vital for our mental and physical health.

Below are some of our favorite spots.

The Chinati Foundation

When visiting Marfa, The Chinati Foundation is de rigueur. The town’s premiere art museum was conceived around the musings of Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Robert Chamberlain, whose works are all on display, with a rotating cast of other artists’ work exhibited in various buildings around town. Like Dia:Beacon, Judd’s other project in Beacon, New York, the buildings are often as compelling as the art itself.

The Get Go Grocery Store

The Get Go is one of those rural Texas staples that can only exist in Texas– a mix of mass consumer necessities and charming local brands pack the shelves at Marfa’s favorite grocery store. Here you’ll find everything from Marfa-made goat cheese and Marfa brand soaps to Big Bend roasted coffee and Topo Chico from across the border. There’s also fresh produce, ice cream, and other sundries.

Do Your Thing Coffee

We love the house made scones and cosy ambiance at Do Your Thing Coffee— a great place to get toast and a cup o’ joe while supporting local art. FWIW: the shortbread is excellent, as is the seasonal “green shakshuka” with Bulgarian yogurt, nigella seeds, avo, and serrano. So delicious!

The Pool at Hotel Saint George

The town keeps maturing with really good food, shopping, art, galleries, farmers market but all in balance in a beautiful natural wild Texas kind of way. Restaurant have their own unique hours and many shops have “text us and we will be right there” notes stuck on the doors. The pool at the new, chic Hotel Saint George opens to the community after 4pm. There’s just a wonderful community feel all-around.

The Cheshire Cate Antique Store in Alpine, Texas

Whether you’re a seasoned antique shopper or just looking for a little local color, The Cheshire Cat in Alpine, Texas has something for everyone. Here you’ll find great bargains on everything from furniture to decor fixtures that can only be found in the old west– like vintage American Indian jewelry, antique silver, and handmade furniture. This is a great place to stop en route to or on the way back from Big Bend National Park.

El Cosmico

We love the colorful striped bathrobes at El Cosmico, among so many other aspects of this charming trailer park/ teepee/ futuristic shelter hotel. El Cosmico is primarily known for its iconic, colorful trailers that you can rent like a hotel room for one night or several, but the teepee accommodation, safari tents, and futuristic bohemian yurts are also worth the stay. Rooms include access to bathhouses (thus the bathrobes), a hammock grove, outdoor kitchens, bike rentals, and wood-fired dutch hot tubs. One of the most unique hotels anywhere!

Dirt

Cactus and vintage clothes reign supreme at Dirt, the brainchild of Taylor Livingston and Alan Dickson, who envisioned the creative shop as a place to stock “grounding and uplifting items,” mostly cacti. The duo’s iconic green truck and garden are open Thursday through Tuesday from 10 to 5 PM. At 4,000 elevation, the days are hot and the nights are chilly, which makes for a lovely combination and even rarer flora. We love seeing cacti thriving next to roses.

The Water Stop

Right next door to Dirt, The Water Stop serves up southern style Texas staples, from organic rotisserie chicken with mac and cheese and kale with bacon jam (recommended) to diner-style breakfast sandwiches (above). The avocado toast is also just as good as you can get it in LA.

The Capri at Thunderbird Hotel

In Marfa you can stay in a cool airstream or a fashionable hotel, eat breakfast burrito from a food truck, or have drinks and dinner in the sublime garden at The Capri. Like all of the newer hotels in the area, the Thunderbird’s tranquility is rendered all the more effective as there are no planes flying in and out of the town, nor are there sirens– just gorgeous vistas during the day and star-filled skies at night.

The post Making The Most of Marfa, Texas appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

French women were famous for not gaining weight despite the recklessness with which they consume foie gras and cheese; they are not known for their balanced chakras or deep knowledge about the difference between kale and chard.

But Paris, which has never been associated with fitness centers or green juices, is now seeing the rise of booming wellness industry that mimics what is now standard in New York and LA.

Here are six new healthy, nature-inspired places worthy of exploration. 

Studio Modo Yoga

Cult hot yoga studio Modo Yoga has finally come to Paris, setting up shop in a studio on Boulevard Richard Lenoir. Also known as Moksha Yoga across the Atlantic, Modo Yoga is a concept that integrates the idea of caring for the environment.

The Modo community is committed to using only non-toxic, low-impact, and renewable products– and Modo Yoga Paris is the only one of all hot yoga studios in France to adopt an eco-friendly mission.

Studio Modo Yoga, 21 Boulevard Richard Lenoir, 75011 Paris

Balzac’s Home Garden

In the heart of the old village of Passy, in the chic district of La Muette, Balzac’s pretty home (and its garden) is open for visitors. Only regulars from the 16th arrondissement of the capital, or those who love literature, know this garden. And with good reason: you still have to climb several stairs and admire the Eiffel Tower for a while before entering the Balzac House Garden, which is a hidden green space approximating 650 square meters.

Small but very green, Balzac’s garden has been having a renaissance among those seeking green solace in the City of Love. Nowadays, it’s composed of a large lawn– pleasant and perfect for those who wish to have a picnic– and is constantly blooming with boxwood, roses, and vines. It’s an ideal place to read, picnic, or meditate in seclusion. 

Balzac Garden, 47 Rue Raynouard, 75016 Paris

Chez Simone

Chez Simone is one of the most impressive modern community spaces we’ve seen– in Europe or elsewhere. A mix of co-working spaces, workshop space, a gym, and a restaurant define the space, which is more private and feels much cooler than, say, a yoga studio-meets-cage. Imagine a chic apartment in the heart of Paris that offers a complete program of exercise classes (yoga, pilates, dance, etc) in small group settings, as well as 15 minute drop-in spa treatments, a healthy Peruvian-inspired cafe, and a co-working space all in one. Ultimately, Chez Simone is all about wellness and empowerment– “Eating well, moving well, living well” is their motto. Think of it as Paris’ answer to The Wing, if The Wing was about wellness. 

Chez Simone, 140 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Catherine Dupuch

Massages, relaxation, and other energy work abounds in Paris, but none are as bespoke and seemingly in sync with nature as Catherine Dupuch. In her salon du Marais, Dupuch prepares personalized flower elixirs that address mood ailments and other psychological aspects of wellbeing. A must for any visitor or local seeking respite in a calm environment. 

Catherine Dupuch, 10 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75003 Paris

Joseph-Migneret’s Garden

Also known as “The Garden of the Roses,” this vegetable enclosure is the result of an assemblage of three gardens behind a set of private mansions on rue des Francs-Bourgeois. 

It took all the ingenuity of its designer and landscaper to assemble the private gardens of three private mansions and to open them up to the public. While preserving the intimacy of the different spaces, this haven of accessible greenery includes one green carpet reserved for children’s games and a shaded fig tree grove. A third plot, more luminous and unobstructed, hosts a perfectly maintained flower garden.

Joseph-Migneret’s Garden, 35-37 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75004 Paris

Read our recap of the 11 Best Vegan Restaurants in Paris, or check out our compilation of Paris’s Most Romantic Hotels. Need some rest and relaxation? Here’s where Paris’s finest go for a spa day.

The post 5 Healthy Paris Hot Spots appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

The display, which will be open to the public for three days, consists of 600,000 begonias, dahlias, grasses and dyed bark aimed at depicting the beauty of nature, and–for the first time in its history– the Flower Carpet will adopt a Latin American theme devoted to Guanajuato, a Mexican region with an exceptionally rich culture, history, and flower tradition. 

The floral carpet spans 1,800 square meters– over 75 m long and 24 m wide, and has come to be regarded as a premiere even on the Brussels culture map since it was first created in 1971.

“Every other summer, on the weekend of August 15th, the Flower Carpet offers a chance to stroll across the Grand-Place, a jewel of Gothic architecture, to inhale the fragrant scent of the begonias and admire its details,” the event website explains.

“This extraordinary spectacle is made complete by a visit to the balcony of the Town Hall, which offers a wide-angle view of the work. A musical theme is especially composed for each edition. A concert is given on the Grand-Place every evening and accompanies a magnificent sound-and-light show.”

The floral carpet will be open, August 16-19th from 10 AM to 10 PM. Get in before it closes and don’t miss the panoramic view from the balcony of the Town Hall (last entry is at 9:30 PM, and children under 10 get in free). The Grand Place is accessible by public transportation, bike, or car.

For more information about Belgium’s Floral Carpet, visit the installation’s website.

The post A Massive Flower Carpet Will Soon Bloom in Belgium appeared first on Garden Collage Magazine.

Tickets are available here.

The event, which has been dubbed New York City’s official rite of spring, is now in its 37th year. In addition to offering eye-popping displays of gorgeous cherry blossom trees, the festival doubles as a celebration of traditional and contemporary Japanese culture, featuring everything from Japanese food and cosplay characters to Japanese music and picnic-style hanami, also known as “cherry blossom viewing.”

The Japanese tradition of Sakura represents an annual celebration and appreciation of the fleeting beauty of nature, which is seen in Japanese culture as a metaphor for life. There’s never a better time to appreciate the beauty in our midst, the suggestion goes, because before long it will be gone.

Often regarded as one of the most spectacular displays of cherry blossoms in the world, the Botanic Garden’s collection of over 200 flowering cherry trees draws people from across the globe.

Cherry blossom festivals occur all over the world– in Japan, where cherry blossoms are native– but the celebration also takes place in the United States, and has a growing international appeal. Each celebration has its own character, unique to the community and country where it takes place.

In between the rows of cherry blossoms along the esplanade, visitors can expect a stage featuring several musical acts and performers throughout the day.

In the Osborne Garden, booths are set up to offer everything from books to manga workshops to seasonal Japanese confections. (And yes, you can eat cherry blossoms.) Tours are also open to visitors who want to gain a more nuanced understanding of the petals that rain like snow aloft.

Along the trellises, the wisteria will soon begin to fill out, just as the peonies grow heavy and lush, vibrant against their dark leaves. Tulips planted near the entrance and azaleas in neat beds both add to extravagant pinks and pastels on display. The entire park will be honoring the occasion. We can’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate spring!

For more information, visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s website.

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