HALLE, Belgium (AP): There are no flowers stopped when they bloom, they bloom when they bloom. Unfortunately, people have not been able to enjoy it these days.
In times of pandemic, when so many things go against the flow, some beauties of nature are no longer embraced, but kept at bay.
From the cherry blossoms in Japan, to the endless tulip fields of Keukenhof in the Netherlands, to the hustle and bustle of purple blue bells in the Hallerbos, south of Brussels, everything looks its best this spring. , when conditions are worse.
“The flowers are there. Nature refuses to be stopped by anyone, ”said Halle Mayor Marc Snoeck, who for the second year in a row should keep people away from the town’s famous forests instead of inviting them.
Worldwide, authorities are trying to prevent a new wave of COVID-19 infections to contain a death toll that already exceeds 3 million. Crowds are anathema to health. But at the same time, the soothing glories of nature are said to be an ideal balm against the psychological burdens of loneliness, disorientation, and fear that the pandemic has caused.
However, when these two concepts collide, caution outweighs the joy by a long stretch these days.
“The weather is fantastic and there is beauty to enjoy,” Snoeck said. “But on the other hand, we have to keep an eye on it. Security outweighs everything. And, although it’s good to enjoy this good weather and the beauty of the blue bells, we don’t want anyone to get sick. ”
Typically, more than 100,000 visitors spread over three weekends come to contemplate the purple fields of Halle. Last spring, when Europe was already facing the first wave of infections, Snoeck already closed the forest to the limit.
Because it is an open forest, the total ban is out of the question, so Snoeck has canceled special bus ferries and issued parking bans to deter people from coming.
“If everyone had to show up on these three weekends, there would really be too many people and the safe distance could not be respected. Not everyone wears a mask at a time like this and of course it is necessary, ”said Snoeck.
Moving the masses away is a counterintuitive reaction that is seen in many places. For Snoeck and the Hallerbos, it’s easy, even though tourist revenue hurts. With the bells, nature gives and little to do but enjoy.
However, for the Keukenhof tulip fields, 300 kilometers (180 miles) north of Halle, the tulip fields are a man-made artificial creation and planting is done as early as September. Two years ago, 1.5 million people visited it in its eight weeks of racing, but now a special antivirus pilot program was needed to allow only a few thousand on the rescheduled opening day.
“Every year we make the Keukenhof as beautiful as possible. We don’t think visitors won’t come. We always do this for visitors, if necessary. digitally, but there is nothing better than having visitors, ”said Stefan Slobbe, head of gardening at Keukenhof.
Like Belgium, the Netherlands is struggling to stifle a third increase in COVID-19 and still limit public events, while the whole process of flowering and fading is ignored.
It was no different in Japan when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom last month. The flowers, known as sakura, have profoundly influenced Japanese culture for centuries and have been used regularly in poetry and literature with their fragility seen as a symbol of life, death and rebirth.
However, this year, as last year, the pandemic had its impact. “Please refrain from gathering to enjoy the cherry blossoms,” posters said in Tokyo, putting a cushion to the generally lush atmosphere.
Some, however, could not be contained.
“I was not able to come here last year because of the state of emergency. This year I wanted to come back, so here I am, ”said Miyu Obata, a 21-year-old college student.
The lack of mass tourism going to Hallerbos will also have its beneficial side. Any flower that is stepped on will not shoot again the following year, Snoeck said. Therefore, once the pandemic is contained, the bell fields may even look better.
“Fewer visitors will make nature even more beautiful,” Snoeck said.
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Mark Carlson and Virginia Mayo in Halle, and Mike Corder and Peter Dejong in Lisse, the Netherlands, contributed to this report.
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