Flowers for the Pope depart from Keukenhof

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 Paul Deckers. "When arranging the flowers for the decoration displays one has to take into account the different flowers and their symbolism.

'This year I chose the Cymbidium as a novelty in the project. This powerful, robust, and pure flower will be shining on the St. Peter's Square. The green Cymbidium will be on the papal steps. Green is the color of hope, power, rest, and peace. Yellow, as the color of Easter and Spring, stands for friendship and peace and cannot be left out of course. That is why the beautiful large yellow Cymbidiums are being used in meters high arrangements. The Cymbidium also stands for friendship and love. The symbolism of this flower fits Easter perfectly.'