Petals for Peace: Discover How Europe's Spring Flower Season Heals Your Soul

Feeling stressed? Try flowers.

Experts have long said that exposure to nature can improve our well-being. Studies have backed up the power of ecopsychology, showing how even brief moments in the wild – from a stroll in a city park to a pilgrimage to view bluebells – can boost your mood, help you to feel more focused and empathetic, and even lower blood pressure.

Whether it’s the scent of lilies, the calming hues of hanging wisteria or the simple pleasure of spotting the season’s first poppies, floral blooms are good for you.

And spring in Europe might just be the best time and place to experience them.

Step into a living painting in Monet’s garden

In the tiny French village of Giverny This is essential for those who have always dreamed of entering a painting. In 1883, Claude Monet created his renowned garden as a vibrant living tableau that he revisited annually. Remarkably, even today—over 150 years since its creation—it remains teeming with vitality.

During springtime, Monet’s garden comes alive with vibrant displays of poppies, peonies, and irises, which were famously captured in his Impressionist paintings. Standing at the heart of this floral spectacle is the lily pond, adorned with a Japanese bridge covered in wisteria; this scene reaches its peak beauty in May and has become one of his most recognizable subjects.

Managed by the Fondation Claude Monet, the garden operates from 1 April to 1 November. The best time for flowers is typically from April to June, yet it remains an ideal spot to revisit during any part of the year for a renewed connection with nature. nature .

The tulip craze blossoms in the Netherlands

About 40 kilometres southwest of Amsterdam, the Keukenhof parks are a display of spring color and one of Europe's most renowned flower-filled locations.

Developed as a giant floral display in 1949, the park showcases about seven million flowering bulbs across 32 hectares, including more than 800 varieties of tulips – the country’s most famous flower – alongside daffodils, orchids, hyacinths and lilies.

The gardens open from just March to mid-May each year. If you fear missing out on an essential windmill-and-tulip photo, note that Keukenhof publishes a field report On which flowers are currently blooming? You can now see late-blooming tulips, alliums, and irises.

The poppies of Tuscany ignite the hills with their vibrant hues.

As Italy transitions out of winter, Tuscany stages its very own natural spectacle.

Between April and May, vibrant poppies emerge among the vineyards and amidst the groves of cypress trees, casting a bright red hue over the landscape. These blossoms thrive in warm, arid environments, making them fitting inhabitants of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Val D’Orcia A perfect location to discover them – preferably with a picnic beneath a clear blue spring sky.

Tuscany boasts numerous outstanding locations. hiking paths that traverse wheat fields, dense woodlands, and historic villages. To enjoy an extraordinary trek, you might consider exploring segments of the route. Via Francigena , an age-old pilgrim route extending from Canterbury to Rome.

Scotland and England’s bluebell woods are nature’s reset button

In central Scotland The Glen Finglas property within the Trossachs National Park is among the UK's most biologically diverse regions and an excellent location to spot the initial bluebells of the season.

Overseen by the Woodland Trust, this expansive terrain featuring old woodland, lakes, and highland paths comes alive during springtime. By early May, bluebells blanket the forests, followed by uncommon orchids and mosses as summer approaches. Trekkers have multiple routes to choose from, but the 27-kilometer Mell Circuit provides some of the most stunning flower views and natural scenery. hilltop views.

For an easier escape, try Richmond Park’s Isabella Plantation. A little southwest of Wimbledon in London, this enclosed woodland garden becomes a riot of colour each April and May, when its pedestrian-only Bluebell Walk opens.

A bit farther away, Kent’s Hole Park Gardens presents an yearly "bluebell spectacle," including all the enchantment one might expect. bluebell barometer staying updated with the colors you might anticipate.