One of the days I was visiting Dries and he was working, I took the train and bus from Hasselt to the botanic garden in Meise outside of Brussels.
It is BIG. Impressive. Covering 92 hectares of land, it can not be fully seen in a day. I could have spent several there, wandering around in the groves and thematic gardens. There was a traditional, convent-style garden in full autumn bloom, inhabited by bright butterflies. Another garden had only medicinal plants, with small signs explaining what the plants have been used for.
Part of the greenhouse complex was being renovated, so some of the wings were closed to visitors – but even so, the available greenhouses covered most of the major biomes and if there was a place to learn about botany from all corners of the world, this is the place.
And the pumpkin patch. There were parts of the garden that were dedicated to seasonal displays, and in early autumn: pumpkin season. Such a beautifully arranged garden, with pumpkins of all different colors, shapes and sizes.
Yes, the garden in Meise was really impressive. A great example of a space for environmental education, where both wild and cultivated plants from all over the world and examples of seasonality gets communicated in the garden grounds. It is not as lush and alluring as some older gardens, like the one in Montpellier or Copenhagen, but the way in which this huge garden is put together is scientific and really speaks to the researcher in me. A model for outdoor education. I like it.
Katja Malmborg 