Bluebells in the Bois de Halle

Rain is a fact of life in Belgium. Sometimes that fact can be rather dreary and depressing, but it does have its upside: all the rain does a very good job of keeping things green. Trees, shrubs, flowers, and vines flourish in such a moist environment. Coming from the high desert that is Colorado, such lushness never gets old.

One day last week my friend Cornelle had the idea to drive about 30 minutes south of Brussels to go walking in the Bois de Halle. Belgium has its fair share of forests, but this one is special because for a few weeks each spring the forest floor is completely carpeted in bluebells (aka wild blue hyacinth).

We spent a couple of hours meandering, chatting, taking pictures, and appreciating springtime in the forest. We listened to the birds chirping, stopped to look at ducks and tadpoles in a pond, smelled the delicate sweet fragrance of the bluebells and the pungent garlicky odor of wild alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard), and even happened upon a little white rabbit hopping through the woods. It was like walking through a fairytale.







The afternoon was lovely, refreshing, and relaxing, the kind of simple outing that I have not often made time for. It is hard to recall the last time I was so unhurried and present in nature. Hopefully, you can take a second to look at the photos below and have your own moment of zen on this Sunday afternoon.

Bois de Halle Photos - Click Here