Brussels Flower Carpet

BRUSSELS - FLORAL CARPET
Each mid August on even numbered years, a team of workers take over the Market Square in Brussels, Belgium to create a magnificent floral carpet. The famous Grand Place is covered with flower carpets. Brussels was home to the first official floral carpet in 1971. Though other cities have played host to the idea, the setting in Brussels, before the Grand Palace, is incredible.
Unlike in many other cities and towns across Europe, this is not a long lasting tradition, but a local initiative to boost tourism that started a few years ago pursuant to a local artist's suggestion. However, given the size of the carpet and the unique architectural framework that the Grand Place provides, this can be considere as one of the most spectacular flower displays to be seen in Europe.
The very same artist who came up with the idea is still in charge to surprise the audience every second year, as he is still the responsible of the design of the carpets, which are different on every occasion.
Thousands of begonias are used for the carpets and, since natural flowers as used, the exhibition is held only for a few days. In oddly hot years, part of the flowers had to be replaced.