Blooming blossoms of Europe: Revealing the overlooked, healing nature of spring's floral season as a hidden therapeutic experience
Feel like you're losing your cool? Look no further than a blooming bouquet of flowers.
The power of nature has long been championed by experts. Studies showed that even fleeting moments in the open wild - from a casual stroll in a city park to a pilgrimage to witness bluebells - can improve your mood, enhance focus, and foster empathy, along with lowering blood pressure.
From the alluring scent of lilies to the calming hues of hanging wisteria or the simple joy of spotting the season's first poppies, floral blooms have a positive impact on your well-being.
And Europe in the spring might just be the ultimate destination for experiencing them.
Wander into an art-inspired dream in Monet's garden
In France, the picturesque village of Giverny is a must-visit for anyone seeking to step foot in a painting. Claude Monet designed his famous garden in 1883 as his living canvas, a canvas he could return to year after year. Nearly 150 years later, it continues to pulse with life.
In spring, Monet's garden blooms with the poppies, peonies, and irises that he immortalized in his Impressionist works. At the heart of it all lies the lily pond, adorned with a wisteria-covered Japanese bridge - in full bloom in May - that graced many of his most renowned works.
Managed by the Fondation Claude Monet, Monet's garden welcomes visitors from 1 April to 1 November. While peak blooms occur from April through June, this is a destination to soak up nature any time of year.
Go wild for colors in the Netherlands
Some 40 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam, the Keukenhof gardens are a rainbow explosion of spring color and one of Europe's most famous floral sites.
Prepared as a massive floral display in 1949, the park sprawls over 32 hectares, showcasing roughly 800 varieties of tulips - the country's most celebrated bloom - alongside daffodils, orchids, hyacinths, and lilies.
The gardens open from March to mid-May each year. For those worried about missing out on the perfect windmill-and-tulip photo, take note: Keukenhof publishes a field report detailing which flowers are in bloom. As it stands, you can witness late-blooming tulips, alliums, and irises.
Set the Tuscan hills ablaze with poppies
As Italy exits the winter, Tuscany puts on a show of its own. From April to May, wild poppies bloom between rows of vineyards and fields of cypress trees, transforming the countryside with a vivid burst of red. The flowers thrive in warm, dry places, making the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Val D'Orcia the perfect backdrop to find them - preferably under a clear spring sky and a packed picnic.
Recommended Reading
- "A Treasure Trove of Architecture and History: The Best European Villages for a Roman Holiday"
- "Tuscany's Vineyard Villages: The Perfect Destination for Wine Lovers"
Tuscany boasts several excellent hiking routes that capture fields of wheat, dense forests, and medieval towns. For an unforgettable hike, set off on sections of the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage trail stretching from Canterbury to Rome.
Find tranquility in Scotland and England's bluebell woods
In central Scotland, the Glen Finglas estate within Trossachs National Park is one of the UK's most diverse regions and an excellent location for catching the first bluebells of the season.
Managed by the Woodland Trust, this vast swath of ancient forest, lochs, and upland trails springs to life in the spring. Bluebells carpet the woodlands by early May, with rare orchids and mosses making their appearances later in the season. Visitors can traverse several trails, but the 27-kilometer Mell Circuit is renowned for its stunning floral panoramas and hilltop vistas.
For an easier retreat, try Richmond Park's Isabella Plantation, a pedestrian-only woodland garden near Wimbledon, London. This enclosured wonderland becomes an eye-catching mosaic of color every April and May, when its Bluebell Walk opens.
Slightly further afield, Kent's Hole Park Gardens present an annual "bluebell spectacular," complete with a bluebell barometer to let you know what hues await.
- The calming hues of hanging wisteria in Monet's garden contribute positively to your well-being, adding to the health-and-wellness benefits of ecopsychology.
- The alluring scent of lilies and the simple joy of spotting poppies in Monet's garden can improve your mood, enhance focus, and foster empathy, suggesting a possible link between the power of nature and mental health.
- Studies have shown that even fleeting moments in the open wild, like a stroll in a city park or a hike, can lower blood pressure, emphasizing the importance of fitness-and-exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
- The Keukenhof gardens in the Netherlands, filled with tulips, daffodils, orchids, and hyacinths, offer a science-backed way to boost your well-being, making travel a vital aspect of a holistic approach to health-and-wellness.
- In Tuscany, the wild poppies blooming between vineyards and forests can serve as a nutritious addition to your diet, considering their antioxidant properties, as well as promoting mental health through their calming effects.
- Richmond Park's Isabella Plantation, a bluebell-filled woodland garden, can be a part of your mental-health routine, providing a tranquil escape, particularly during the spring season.
