After months of preparations, the transportation of the floral consignment left from Keukenhof, 'Flowers for St. Peter's Square in Rome'. The Right Reverend Van den Hende, Bishop of Rotterdam, came to Keukenhof to bless the flowers before departure. Visitors from many nationalities were there to wave the floral consignment off.
The Dutch floricultural sector has been responsible for the floral decoration of the Easter celebration in St. Peter's Square in Rome for over 30 years.
Surrounded by the wonderful flower displays , Pope Francis will give the Easter Blessing Urbi et Orbi this coming Sunday. Chief flower arranger Paul Deckers is traveling to Rome with dozens of Dutch flower growers to arrange in two days.
"For me as chief flower arranger it is a challenge every year to decorate the large St. Peter's Square with Dutch flowers and plants: a metamorphosis into a floral painting," says Deckers. "When arranging the flowers for the decoration displays one has to take into account the different flowers and their symbolism."