Lifestyle 365: Gorgeous Gardens!

Let us all rejoice among the flowers!

A you may have read on my previous post, I have begun taking certain prompts from Lace à la Mode's 365 Lolita Challenge, as an opportunity of sorts to get used to blogging. For today's selection, I'll be elaborating on prompts no. 180, which is to share my favourite gardens. Now, I shall restrict this to gardens that I have personally visited, because otherwise I would be doomed to indecision and longing.

My favourite gardens are some that I have visited whilst in Belgium. I have been in quite a number of beautiful gardens in my family's summer travels, like those of Schönbrunn, Charlottenburg, and Versailles. Regardless of their fame, I feel a stronger connection to these gardens and their beauty. To me, they are a real memory of my daily life, and my once-reality.

To start it off, my favourite garden would be that of the Breivelde castle. This castle is now a brasserie, and its gardens are now a public park. It is located in the town in which I used to live back in Belgium, and I would cross it on my way back home on school days whenever I felt I needed to relax and get away from the everydayness. I would sit inside of a pine tree, hidden by the needles, and just listen to music, the wind, and the footsteps.

My second favourite garden is once again, a public park. This is called the Petit Sablon or Kleine Zavel. We went through the park in a field trip for our history class, and out teacher told us something about the statue of Egmont and Horne, but I cannot remember what it was. However, a fun fact is that the Count of Egmont had his castle in the same town that the first park is located in! It is now a library in the city centre, surrounded by another lovely park that hold concerts on thursdays.

Sometimes I wonder if my admiration of foreign parks seems strange to people where it is normal to have well taken careof public areas. In my state it it very uncommon to find a well-maintained public park. If they are not tended to by those who live nearby (which in itself is quite unusual) they will be dried and dirty, and occasionally foul-smelling. Thus far I have found one park in a more touristic area that is pleasant to stroll around. It is quite small and does not have much flair or fancy, but even in its simplicity, I find it quite enjoyable. This park, sadly and much due to some ill-mannered visitors, does not make it into the list.

Now then, I hope that you may have found a way to enjoy my ramblings and reminiscences. If you ever find yourself in East Flanders (or Belgium for that matter, as it is quite small), do make a short trip to any of these parks on a day of nice weather. In case that you visit in spring, you must go to the blooming fruit trees of Hasselt!

Encore et toujours,

Lapine.