Bloemen

Everything is blooming here in Belgium!

This tulip tree is right around the corner from our house.

Just loaded with flowers.

This tree and a lot more like it line a street near our house.

Crabapple?

The orchards are also in full bloom right now.

Apple, cherry, pear . . .

This past weekend we took a drive to this forest.

It's covered in wild hyacinth, also known as bluebells.

The forest covers over 1,000 acres and was first mentioned in the year 686.  As with Belgium, it has changed hands a few times over the centuries.

The Spanish, the French, and the Dutch managed the forest.  Finally the Germans cut most of the trees during WWI.

After the war, it again became the possession of the Belgians and it was reforested in the 1930's and 40's.

For a few weeks each year it looks like a blue carpet.

Hallerbos

Halle, Belgium