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Spring Bloom Guide – Don't Miss These!
As spring arrives, nature dons its colorful attire, making it no surprise that our hearts, confined within four walls for over a year, long to be outside. Our latest blog post is a spring bloom guide, perfect for hikers eager to discover the floral landscapes of Hungary during their excursions.
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The First Herald of Spring: The Snowdrop
One of Hungary's most beautiful snowdrop fields can be found in the Alcsúti Arboretum. This 40-hectare nature reserve is located at the foot of the Vértes mountains, in the Váli Valley, about 40 kilometers from Budapest. The main building is a neoclassical palace and its associated park, planted in the 1820s by Archduke Joseph. The arboretum showcases 24 varieties of 7 species of snowdrops, including the Levantine snowdrop, spring snowdrop, and Crimean snowdrop. Remember, snowdrops have been protected in Hungary since 2005, so do not pick them! The conservation value is 10,000 HUF per stem!
Almond Trees with a View
Our favorite almond trees are found in Budapest, on Gellért Hill. If you don't mind a bit of climbing, you can enjoy one of the city's best views while marveling at the pale pink almond blossoms. One of the largest trees is located on the southern side of Gellért Hill, above the Rock Chapel near the cross, best approached from the Liberty Bridge. You might wonder how almond trees ended up on Gellért Hill. The predecessor of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences intentionally planted them on the hill, which used to be a grassy, rocky hillside.
Tulips Instead of Lavender
Did you know that Kőröshegy is worth visiting not only during lavender season but also for tulips? The village is most easily reached by car, turning off from Balatonföldvár towards Kaposvár. The tulip harvest is planned for April 8-18, 2021, though this may change depending on weather and blooming conditions. Thanks to last year's efforts, this year's outdoor farm will have twice the number of tulips, with 258,000 flowers awaiting harvesters. Due to the pandemic, usual programs like crafts, bouquet making, and petting zoos will be canceled, but the sea of tulips will surely make up for it!
Cherry Blossom Festival in the Great Plain
To admire cherry blossoms, head to Nagykörű in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county, nestled along the Tisza River. Although traditional festivities and organized programs won't take place this year, not even the coronavirus can stop the blossoms. The village's church garden is home to Hungary's largest cherry collection, spanning 200 hectares with over a hundred varieties. The village streets and gardens also boast dense rows of cherry and sour cherry trees. The cherry blossom period, typically in April, is significant not only for the local community but for the entire country, as it indicates the impact of frosts and helps predict the year's cherry yield.
Gönci Apricot in the Eastern Corner of the Country
For the rose family member Gönci apricot trees, you'll need to travel to Boldogkőváralja in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county (the name might sound familiar from a previous hiking blog post). The apricot's spread can be attributed to the phylloxera epidemic of the 1880s, which caused significant damage to the dominant vineyards in the area. Local farmers planted apricot trees in place of the vines and soon realized it was a wise choice, as the more sheltered hillsides were ideal for apricots. Interestingly, Gönci apricot is not a single variety but includes several such as Gönci Hungarian apricot, Hungarian apricot C235, Almond apricot, Cegléd Piroska, Cegléd purple apricot, Cegléd giant, Cegléd gold, Pannonia, and Bergeron apricots.
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