In Brussels, a Colorful Floral Carpet

Photo
The Brussels Flower Carpet in 2012.Credit Gaston Batistini

A Turkish “carpet” measuring 246 feet long and 82 feet wide and made up of about 800,000 cut begonias will blanket Brussels’ Grand Place, the city’s main square, from Aug. 15 to 17. The biennial Brussels Flower Carpet, which combines art, architecture, and landscaping, this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of Turkish immigration in Belgium.

The blossoms, laid down by 120 volunteers just hours before the opening, are packed tightly one by one, about 30 to every square foot, with rolled turf filling in the spaces between the floral patterns. During dry spells, the carpet must be watered so the turf doesn’t shrink. If it rains, the grass grows nearly two inches.

The event started in the early 1970s to showcase Belgium’s famous export of begonias. The country is one of the world’s largest producer of begonia tubers, cultivating some 60 million every year.

Visitors may admire the masterpiece at eye level on Grand Place and get a bird’s-eye view from the balcony of City Hall. Tours run from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., with light and sound shows every evening starting at 10. Admission is 5 euros, with free entry for children under 10. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.flowercarpet.be.