This was published 6 years ago
Superblooms, cherry blossoms and flower tourism: The phenomena behind the latest trend in travel
I wasn't expecting to walk into a pink petal snowstorm. To my delight, cherry blossom season – that most erratic of natural spectacles – arrived late this year, and buds were only just beginning to spring baby-soft and flimsy from the branches of Japan's beloved cherry trees.
The slightest breeze wrenched them from their moorings, and carried them off so that cities and towns were showered in a flurry of pastel pink snowdrops.
Locals picnicked beneath the blossom-heavy trees; brides and grooms posed for blossom-framed wedding shots; tourists wandered the streets, eyes fixed upon the blooms bubbling out from the trees above them.
Glacier National Park in the US.Credit: iStock
Here was Japan presented not as a culinary or cultural destination, but as one that could mesmerise by the power of its flora alone.
Such is the pleasure derived from floral events that an upsurge has been reported in the number of travellers seeking to deepen their experience of the world's natural phenomena.
"As travellers look for further dimensions to their travel, those who are interested in nature, flora and botanical tourism like to travel in certain seasons to extend the experiences their travels bring to a destination," says Judy Vanrenen, founder of Botanica Travel.
Himeji Castle with beautiful cherry blossom in spring season. Credit: iStock
"Seasonal travel means you can return to a destination and have a totally new experience."
It's not just landscapes transformed by the seasons that can be enjoyed anew, but also those in which foreign species flourish. Vanrenen's favourites are rhododendrons the size of trees and Himalayan blue poppies that flower during the Scottish spring.
"It's such an unusual sight as we can't grow these in Australia," she says. "Arriving into gardens by zodiac to discover these plants is such a buzz."
Isafjordur in the west fjords region of IcelandCredit: RnDmS
But flora isn't always cooperative, as those arriving too early for this year's cherry blossom season well know.
And so it's best to appreciate whatever is flowering right now – and understand that in every season there is something to celebrate.
SPRING
A lavender field.
THE PLACE: NORTHERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Namaqualand daisies
BEST TIME Late August to mid-September
Sun burst: Ginkgo trees in Nami Island, Korea. Credit: iStock
WHAT TO SEE: An arid, succulent-filled biome carpeted in a mass flowering of brilliantly coloured annuals – most famously the Namaqualand daisy – come spring.
EXPERT TIP: To best view the blooms as they turn their faces towards the northern sun, begin your journey in the north and drive through the region in a southerly direction.
THE ESSENTIALS: The Classic Safari Company's seven-night West Coast wildflower tour explores flower reserves, a quiver tree forest and the "bulb capital of the world", Niewoudtville. See classicsafaricompany.com.au
THE PLACE: JAPAN
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Cherry blossoms
BEST TIME It's impossible to predict when the blossoms will emerge; for the best chance of seeing them consult the cherry blossom forecast (sakura.weathermap.jp) and plan to travel between late March and mid-April.
WHAT TO SEE Clouds of delicate, pale pink blossoms spilling from cherry trees and transforming all of Japan – from the clogged streets of Tokyo to the empty ravines of Yakushima Island – into a floral wonderland.
EXPERT TIP Be prepared for big crowds: cherry blossom season is the most joyous event on the Japanese calendar, and people come out in huge numbers to enjoy the flowers and festivities.
THE ESSENTIALS Botanica Travel's 11-night small ship cruise during cherry blossom season explores the gardens, castles and temples of Japan and South Korea. See botanica.travel
THE PLACE: WESTERN AUSTRALIA
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Wildflowers
BEST TIME September to November
WHAT TO SEE A region bounded by the Pilbara in the north and the forests of the southwest set ablaze from June to November with the world's largest collection of wildflowers: 12,000 species, of which 60 per cent are found nowhere else on earth.
EXPERT TIP Tours sell out fast, so to book early to avoid disappointment.
THE ESSENTIALS AAT King's 15-day Western Wonderland tour explores Perth and the surrounding region, affording travellers floral views during wildflower season. See aatkings.com
SUMMER
THE PLACE: PROVENCE, FRANCE
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Lavender harvest
BEST TIME July
WHAT TO SEE Field upon field of gently rolling, intensely pigmented lavender.
EXPERT TIP A late-June or early-July visit will ensure fewer crowds, but might yield fewer lavender blooms, too.
THE ESSENTIALS APT's 12-day Vive La France Small Group Discovery tour allows guests to cut and distil fresh lavender during a visit to the village of Sault. See aptouring.com.au
THE PLACE: ECUADOR
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Orchids
BEST TIME February to April
WHAT TO SEE Thousands of species of orchids – the largest number ever recorded in a single country –blooming in an exquisite abundance of shapes, sizes, colours and scents.
EXPERT TIP Carry a magnifying glass so that you can examine the tinier species.
THE ESSENTIALS Chimu Adventures' 10-day Classic Ecuador tour offers guests an opportunity to spot wild orchids during visits to Mindo Cloud Forest and Cotopaxi National Park. See chimuadventures.com
THE PLACE: MACAU
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Lotus flowers
BEST TIME June, during the Macao Lotus Flower Festival
WHAT TO SEE Bright pink lotus blooms dotting the ocean of leaves bobbing upon the territory's ponds and waterways.
EXPERT TIP View the lotus flowers at the Taipa Houses-Museum then join in the lotus flower fabric printing and bracelet braiding workshops.
THE ESSENTIALS Helen Wong's Tours offers tailor-made trips during Macao's lotus flowering season. See helenwongstours.com
THE PLACE: ARCTIC
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Wildflowers
BEST TIME July
WHAT TO SEE Dainty buds – lilies, daisies, buttercups – erupting in brief, triumphant bloom across the mostly frozen tundra.
EXPERT TIP See the greatest variety of wildflowers and plants at Churchill in the Canadian Arctic.
THE ESSENTIALS Lindblad Expeditions' 14-day Exploring Greenland and the Canadian High Arctic itinerary journeys though the Arctic during its brief, wildflower-blooming summer. See au.expeditions.com
AUTUMN
THE PLACE: CRETE, GREECE
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Mediterranean wildflowers
BEST TIME October
WHAT TO SEE A primeval landscape shimmering with autumnal blooms like crocuses, sea daffodils, narcissi and cyclamen.
EXPERT TIP Take time to appreciate the trees, too: chestnut and juniper woodlands, strawberry trees and groves of ripening olives.
THE ESSENTIALS Greentours offers an eight-day exploration of the autumn bulbs, birds and butterflies of Crete. See greentours.co.uk
THE PLACE: NEW ENGLAND, US
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Autumn colours
BEST TIME Early October
WHAT TO SEE A landscape set aflame by trees (maple, sumac, dogwood, birch) whose leaves have turned to gold, orange, purple and red.
EXPERT TIP Sail through the leaves during one of the many canopy zip lining tours offered throughout New England.
THE ESSENTIALS Adventure World offers an 11-day independent Fall Foliage Drive that loops from Boston to Stowe, Manchester, The Berkshires and back again. See adventureworld.com.au
THE PLACE: WACHAU VALLEY, AUSTRIA
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Grape harvest
BEST TIME October
WHAT TO SEE A terraced landscape swathed in vineyards of green-gold and glistening with sun-ripened fruit.
EXPERT TIP Hire a bike or Segway and explore the Wachau's vineyards at a leisurely pace.
THE ESSENTIALS APT's 15-day Magnificent Europe tour offers guests a chance to take part in the harvest at a Wachau Valley winery. See aptouring.com.au
WINTER
THE PLACE: OKANAGAN, CANADA
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Snow ghosts
BEST TIME Mid-January to late February
WHAT TO SEE High alpine trees – spruce, balsam, lodge pole pine – cloaked in an accumulation of rime ice so that they assume a frothy, sculptural appearance.
EXPERT TIP Avoid falling into tree wells (concealed voids at the tree base) by giving them a wide berth.
THE ESSENTIALS Big White Ski School offers lessons for all ski and snowboarding levels, and practice runs during which the snow ghosts can be viewed. See bigwhite.com
THE PLACE: UK
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Snowdrops
BEST TIME Late January to mid-March for the Scottish Snowdrop Festival
WHAT TO SEE Immense drifts of delicate, fragrant white snowdrops poking their heads out in defiance of the frigid earth.
EXPERT TIP For the best sighting of massed, semi-wild snowdrops, visit Colesbourne Park in Gloucestershire.
THE ESSENTIALS Visitors to Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire can enjoy the blooming snowdrops during a self-guided walk through its 810 hectares of parkland and formal gardens. See blenheimpalace.com
THE PLACE: SOUTH-EASTERN AUSTRALIA
THE FLORAL SPECTACLE Flowering wattles
BEST TIME July and August
WHAT TO SEE Bursts of fluffy, bright yellow pom-pom flowers adorning the winter-flowering species of Australian wattle, predominantly in the country's south-east.
EXPERT TIP The largest, most impressive specimens tend to congregate in valleys.
THE ESSENTIALS Snowy River cycling offers a self-guided ride along the East Gippsland Rail Trail, which stretches through forests and farmland and is a good spot for viewing winter-flowering wattles.
FIVE
AUSTRALIAN GARDENING
GURUS ON FLORAL TRAVEL
SIMON RICKARD, GARDENER AND BOTANICA TOUR GUIDE
A TRAVELLER REALLY SHOULD EMBRACE FLORAL TRAVEL BECAUSE … floral displays, both natural and cultivated, are one of the great spectacles of nature.
MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE WORLD FOR FLORAL TRAVEL IS … the UK, where flowers are celebrated as they are in no other culture. From sheets of winter snowdrops to the herbaceous borders of high summer, flowers are everywhere in British gardens.
MY BEST ADVICE FOR MAKING THE MOST OF SEASONAL BLOOMS WHILE TRAVELLING IS … do your research to ensure you coincide with peak bloom. A week too early or too late can mean the difference between spectacle and disappointment.
AT HOME MY FAVOURITE SEASON IS … autumn, when my garden is at its most nostalgic, and the trees create blocks of colour spring flowers can only dream of. See simonrickard.com
CLAIRE TAKACS, GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER
A TRAVELLER REALLY SHOULD EMBRACE FLORAL TRAVEL BECAUSE ... it gives a great focus for travel, and if you time your trip seasonally for specific moments, it can be extraordinary. You get to experience the beauty of nature and also capture a great insight into other cultures, who celebrate these changing seasons.
MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE WORLD FOR FLORAL TRAVEL IS … Japan. It's breathtaking witnessing both the cherry blossoms and autumn colours, both worthy of separate trips.
MY BEST ADVICE FOR MAKING THE MOST OF SEASONAL BLOOMS WHILE TRAVELLING IS … allow flexibility in your schedule as each year peak blooming or autumn colour may be at slightly different times, and be aware that peak timing travels down the country. For example, Kyoto will peak in autumn colour before Tokyo, generally.
AT HOME MY FAVOURITE SEASON IS … autumn. The light softens, the weather becomes more stable and the gardens really shine. See takacsphoto.com
TEENA CRAWFORD, HORTICULTURIST AND BOTANICA GUIDE
A TRAVELLER REALLY SHOULD EMBRACE FLORAL TRAVEL BECAUSE ... gardens have many layers to them, incorporated in their creation, evolution and what we see today. They can include historical events, famous people and industrial and engineering developments.
MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE WORLD FOR FLORAL TRAVEL IS ... Europe, because the climate is so varied, therefore you can see an extensive variety of plants and gardens.
MY BEST ADVICE FOR MAKING THE MOST OF SEASONAL BLOOMS WHILE TRAVELLING IS … vary the time of year you travel, visiting different countries and including both man-made gardens and natural landscapes.
AT HOME MY FAVOURITE SEASON IS … autumn, as gardens excite all the senses. Fragrant flowers of osmanthus and michelia fill the air. Late season blooms of dahlias, anemones and roses mingle with the foliage of the deciduous. See botanica.travel
CLIVE BLAZEY, FOUNDER OF THE DIGGERS CLUB AND CREATOR OF THE GARDENS OF HERONSWOOD, ST ERTH AND DIGGERS PRESERVATION GARDEN IN VICTORIA
A TRAVELLER REALLY SHOULD EMBRACE FLORAL TRAVEL BECAUSE ... I think nearly all my garden inspiration has come from travelling, whether it be constructed gardens or the wilderness. Being surrounded by visually beautiful things gives me as much pleasure as meeting interesting people.
MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE WORLD FOR FLORAL TRAVEL IS ... the Tasmanian wilderness, Lord Howe Island, and the Cross Cut Saw in the Victorian Alps.
MY BEST ADVICE FOR MAKING THE MOST OF SEASONAL BLOOMS WHILE TRAVELLING IS … I'm not a fan of the Chelsea Flower show because it's too confected and crowded. Walking through Flanders poppies and olives in Tuscany, or delphiniums at Mammoth Lakes in the Sierra Nevada are my most vivid memories.
AT HOME MY FAVOURITE SEASON IS … snow daisies breaking through the melting snow and alpine gums in December is a precious memory. See diggers.com.au
MILLIE ROSS, GARDENER, PRESENTER AND TRAVELRITE TOUR LEADER
A TRAVELLER REALLY SHOULD EMBRACE FLORAL TRAVEL BECAUSE ... plants connect us to culture and cuisine, to the unique landscape of a place as well as its art, history and, of course, its people. Look for plants and you will find them in the most remarkable places.
MY FAVOURITE PART OF THE WORLD FOR FLORAL TRAVEL IS ... anywhere I haven't been yet! If you love plants, there's nowhere you can't connect to. I often think of my first hours in Varanasi in India. My head was spinning. As soon as I recognised Ficus religiosa, the iconic bodhi tree, growing out of a crack in the wall, I knew I was among friends.
MY BEST ADVICE FOR MAKING THE MOST OF SEASONAL BLOOMS WHILE TRAVELLING IS … I think that gardeners can be inspired by any season. Just leave your expectations behind and embrace what's in front of you. Some of the most extraordinary moments with plants are incredibly subtle, sought out on hands and knees in the forest or sitting silently in a space.
AT HOME MY FAVOURITE SEASON IS … I love an alpine summer, exploring the Great Dividing Range in search of a rare ranunculus or a twisted snow gum sculpted by the winters. In winter, I'm more likely to hit the heathlands on the Victorian coast, looking for tiny terrestrial orchids. See travelrite.com.au/gardentours
FIVE MORE BRILLIANT BLOOMS OF THE WORLD
BLACK IRIS
Jordan's so-called black iris – dappled with hues of purple and indigo – brings with it the hope for growth and renewal when it blooms for a short time each spring.
GIANT WATER LILY
The leaves of the giant water lily, which grows in the Amazon, the Pantanal and the Guianas, are so strong they can hold the weight of a child. Pollinated by the scarab beetle and lasting just 48 hours, the flowers bloom white and turn pink by the second night.
FAGUS
Found only in Tasmania, this deciduous beech tree erupts in a riot of colour known as the "turning of the fagus" each autumn.
ROSE
Morocco's Valley of Roses blooms with the flowers for which it is named each spring, transforming itself from a place of parched valleys and gorges to an oasis of bright colour and glorious scent.
CYCLAMEN
Beloved as a winter-flowering pot plant in Australian homes, the bright-petal cyclamen grows wild in parts of Bulgaria, Turkey, the Caucasus, Crimea, Lebanon and northern Israel.
Sign up for the Traveller newsletter
The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now.