Celebrating Féerie Florale

September 2024 saw the flowers return to Alden Biesen - and what a joyous spectacle it was! We asked two fans of all thing floral who were lucky enough to be there to share their highlights.

Chloë Bryan-Brown, Editor The Flower Arranger

“I was really looking forward to the show. Before it was cancelled last year, Féerie Florale’s predecessor, Fleuramour, was a source of inspiration to flower arrangers and floral artists all over the world and I was keen to see whether the new event would live up to the theme of ‘New Beginnings’. I wasn’t disappointed.

"My highlights included the courtyard design by Nicu Bocancea. Nicu’s work is always exciting and I loved his floating ring design with its layers of water lily leaves that brought to mind Monet’s Giverny. I felt Nicu’s design successfully brought together ideas and techniques from Eastern and Western floral art, from the massed Hydrangea heads to the artful placement of pear branches and lotus seed heads.

"Tom de Houwer should also be mentioned for the sheer number of designs he produced, each of them, in my opinion, something special. Circles, symbolising new beginnings, were a feature of his free-standing designs and I was really impressed with his large installation in the chapel incorporating sound, movement and design and reminding us that floral art does not exist alone.

"My personal favourite was Iza Tkaczyk’s design which I felt worked on many levels - as an overall spectacle and amazing example of craftsmanship. Iza told me she called her work ‘Happy Mushrooms’ and it certainly made me happy.

"The biggest surprise was the use of large leaves which I have never seen to such an extent. They were used very effectively in Nicu and Tom’s designs providing cover, interest, texture and form. I loved the way both life and death was addressed thematically - it was the first time I have seen coffin designs at a show!”

Tom de Houwer floral art Feerie Florale Alden Biesen

Tom de Houwer with his installation in the chapel

Diane Fair, who joined our holiday to the 2024 show

“The biggest highlight of Féerie Florale 2024 was definitely Tom De Houwer’s masterpiece in the chapel it was a very emotional and inspirational presentation- so very special we had to go back and watch a second time.

"Inside, the castle did not disappoint with fabulous installations by Moniek Vanden Berge and Stef Adrianssens who both used amazing Vanda orchids in their meticulously constructed designs. We also loved Iza Tkaczyb’s mushrooms! But every room offered much to be admired and photographed.

We also enjoyed watching a demonstration by the Belgium champion Stefan Van Berlo and the lovely Dutch 2022 European champion, Hanneke Frankema - both master florists who created intricate pieces of floristry while speaking to the audience in English.”