This year, once again, sufficient sponsors have been brought together in order to realise the Dutch flower decorations for Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
A long-standing tradition can be continued. Piet van der Burg, artistic director of the project, has been preparing his new designs, as well as enthusing flower growers and growers’ associations for months. Various parties within the floriculture sector will donate their products and render their services – as preparations are now in full swing.
Every year, one particular type of flower takes centre stage in the overall decorations. This year, it will be the Avalanche rose. Meijer Roses from Pijnacker provides 6,000 roses in various colours. Celosia Reprise will also be an important part of the flower decorations in this edition.
Specialist breeder Evanthia, from Monster, and Kwekerij Bos Bloemen, from Naaldwijk, open the celosia season with their sponsorship of 1,500 flowers. The Anthurium Collective will provide 500 anthurium flowers, and Growers’ Association Zentoo contributes 500 stems of single-flowered Baltazar chrysanthemums and Serenity Purple spray chrysanthemums.
Delphinium nursery N.G. Wigchert, from Noordwijkerhout, is a regular sponsor, this year with 500 flowers in three different colors. New this year is the sponsorship of Tak Global, in collaboration with Coloríginz /OZ Import, from De Kwakel – donating a wide range of cut greens.
Per the usual, a large-scale contribution is provided by producers from the flower bulb region. UNEX Inc. from Voorhout sponsors all tulip bulbs – and Roma Nova facilitates the cultivation until their actual flowering, together with a number of enthusiastic volunteers. Flower and Plant company W. Oskam & Zn. BV, also from Voorhout, is practically every year a major contributor with their daffodils Tête-à-Tête – also this year. The flower bulbs will adorn a total length of 465 meters on St. Peter’s Square. Van der Slot Transport from Noordwijkerhout will once again take care of the logistics line from the Netherlands to Rome.
The overall arrangement will result in an ensemble of a wide variety of colours, in which the bulb flowers will form the basis and the cut flowers will be processed in various colourful layers rising above them. All the products together will adorn an area of approximately 170 square meters, with dozens of flower arrangements around the main altar, on the steps leading up to the podium, as well as the central balcony of the papal loggia. All contributions combined will create a stunning decor, with which the Dutch floriculture sector demonstrates a spectrum of unique products to the world.
