Hidden Gardens in the Heart of Brussels: Tillens Block Part 5

Tillens Block Part 5

 

As I said in my previous post about Tillens Block. Although it is primarily a piece of land for local residents to grow vegetables and is not really a place to find flower displays, if you keep your eyes open and look around you you will see flowers in unexpected places.

It has been said that weeds are only plants growing where you do not want them too.

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Hidden Gardens in the Heart of Brussels: Tillens Block Part 4

Tillens Block Part  4

 

Yes it is just a block of land used primarily for residents to grow their own vegetables and aside from the cherry blossoms and hawthorn bushes it is pretty devoid of floral attractions. But that is only if you ignore the varrious grasses that flower around the place. As they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

 

You have to not only know where to look but be open and aware of your surroundings.

 

That said, there is one BIG reason to visit Tillens Block in Spring. The Magnolia blossoms.

This magnificent tree is actually in a yard along the lane that goes into Tillens Block. There is a tall wooden privacy fence but the tree is big enough that you can admire and feast your eyes on the glorious display to your heart's content.

I am sure that any passers or neighbours living in the lane would understand and not call the police if you linger there for a while until you have taken as much of this stunning view as you can.

As you can see the tree is positively covered with Magnolia blossoms.

I actually went back several times to look at it first when it was in covered in flower buds and then to see the flowers. 

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Hidden Gardens in the Heart of Brussels: Tillens Block Part 3

Tillens Block

This is a view of the other entrance to Tillens Block

I'm not sure but I think these are Hawthorn bushes flowering.

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Hidden Gardens in the Heart of Brussels Part 2

Tillens Block Part 2

 

I visited Tillens Block several times throughout the year and during one visit in Spring I was in time to photograph some of the trees flowering.

 

I am not 100% sure but I think they are Cherry Blossoms

 

 

 

Tucked away in a corner behind a small picket fence are some Beehives. Apparently there are numerous locations throughout the city where people keep bees. While it may seem strange to keep bees in the heart of a big city once you realise that Brussles is in fact quite a green city with great pockets of green spaces not to mention all the gardens and flowers all over the place and the huges tracts of forest the popularity of apiculture is not surprising.

Again for a city Brussels has an abundance of birds. Most people will probably notice the huge crows especially in winter as well as the ever present pigeons. But there are lots more to see and hear if you take the time to extend your awareness. It is quite normal to see nests in the trees lining the streets and some places you can hear them singing. On several occassions at night along one street I have heard what can only have been a nightingale or some other night song bird. It had an increadibly pure voice that sounded even more liquid and magical in the moonlight.

These little cheeky guys were busy flitting back and forth chattering away in Tillens Square. They seemed to enjoy teasing me while I tried to photograph them. They would wait until I had just about gotten them in focus and then they would all fly away to came back not too far away and wait again. Finally I managed to get a few decent shots of them.

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