Floriade, a Fusion of Nature and Art

▪ 2003

       Floriade, the “world's fair” of horticulture, was held in Haarlemmermeer, Neth., in 2002. Occurring only once every 10 years, Floriade celebrated all things horticultural with displays, exhibits, classes, and competitions. More than two million visitors attended the fifth Floriade, which ran from April to October.

      “Feel the Art of Nature” was the event's theme, and exhibits covered more than 64.8 ha (160 ac). The master plan, which was developed by landscape designer Niek Roozen, included three distinct areas—designated “Near the Roof,” “By the Hill,” and “On the Lake.” Notable features included Big Spotters' Hill, a pyramid constructed of 500,000 cu m (654,000 cu yd) of sand, and several man-made lakes on which floated 10 artificial islands. Each of the islands incorporated its own unique environment, with pasture, woodlands, and water features. Near the lake section, paths wound through a landscape with more than 60,000 plants, including rare flower bulbs and wild orchids.

      The three dozen indoor exhibitions changed with the seasons, from spring bulbs in April to autumn foliage in October. Scores of countries sponsored displays, including the U.S., Germany, France, Russia, Canada, Pakistan, India, China, and Japan. For the National Day of France, Alain Meilland of Meilland International, a French rose-breeding company, introduced a new variety of rose called Les Quatre Saisons.

      The Floriade Keurings Commissie awarded the model garden prize to Harry Esselink for his “Verstaalde Eenvoud” (Steeled Simplicity) in the Green City, constructed on one of the man-made islands. The futuristic garden consisted solely of steel structures and patches of different species of grass with their varying textures and shades of green.

      Perhaps more spectacular than the displays themselves was the structure that housed them. Guinness World Records recognized the solar roof over Floriade as the world's largest. The 30,000-sq-m (35,900-sq-yd) roof contained nearly 20,000 solar panels, providing enough electricity to power the entire exhibit. The panels were to continue to operate after Floriade's conclusion, providing electricity to the remaining permanent exhibits as well as to nearby homes. Guinness also recognized the exhibition of summer flowers, which included a massive display, as the bouquet with the greatest number of cultivars ever—more than 1,000.

Warren Schultz

* * *