Category: Gardens and/or Museums

A tiny Principality between Austria and Switzerland

by BJM Publishing, posted in Adventure, Art, Gardens and/or Museums, Travel

It was established in 1719 and achieved full independence in 1866.
Situated between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein is one of only two doubly landlocked countries (along with Uzbekistan) in the world. The capital city is Vaduz.

It spans about 62 square miles, making it the sixth smallest country on Earth. (Following Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu, and San Marino). It has a population of about 39,000. The terrain is mountainous, ideal for skiing, and largely covered by the Alps. It is a parliamentary monarchy with a Prince (Head of State) who holds significant political powers, including vetoing legislation.

Vaduz Castle (German: Schloss Vaduz) is the palace and official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. In 1984, Prince Franz Joseph handed over power and everyday duties of the monarch to Hans-Adam, with Hans-Adam thus becoming regent, while his father remained the nominal monarch.

Following his father’s death in 1989, Hans-Adam officially ascended to the throne. On August 15, 2004, Hans-Adam formally handed the power of making day-to-day governmental decisions to his eldest son Hereditary Prince Alois as regent, as a way of beginning a dynastic transition to a new generation.

Legally, Hans-Adam remains the head of state. Hans-Adam is no mere figurehead prince. He is much wealthier and much more powerful than Britain’s Charles III, with a fortune of $12.6 billion, according to Bloomberg. This is 25 percent more than the annual GDP of “his” country, over which his family exercises complete control.

German is the official language. The population is predominately Roman Catholic. You can explore the entirety of this tiny country by walking its 75-kilometre-long national trail from Balzers on the Swiss border to Schaanwald on the Austrian one if one were so inclined. Known for a strong banking sector and tax-efficient system.

The currency used in Liechtenstein is the Swiss franc. Industry (manufacturing and construction) accounts for 42.2% of the gross domestic product (GDP). The largest branches in Liechtenstein’s strongly export-oriented industrial sector are machine and tool engineering, plant construction, precision instruments, and the dental and food sectors. Liechtenstein disbanded its army in 1868, and has had no standing army since. It also does not have an airport; you normally reach this tiny principality by train and/or bus/ and car.

What’s more fun than looking at some of the tiniest pieces of art? Postal stamps. Like Liechtenstein, they are small but mighty, and you can explore a museum entirely dedicated to Liechtenstein’s unique stamps. This museum is small, so it won’t take a lot of your time, but it’s worth popping in to see Liechtensteinian postage stamps through time. The country began creating postage stamps in the early 20th century, and since then, hundreds of beautiful and meaningful designs have been created. It was part of my mission when I toured Europe to obtain some of these stamps for my brother who was a stamp collector (Philatelist). Sadly, I did not keep any for myself. If interested click on link for the postal museum.

https://www.landesmuseum.li/en/our-museums/postalmuseum

With no photos allowed and a relatively small collection, many visitors seem to find the Liechtenstein Treasure Chamber a bit of a let down. I didn’t find it that way though. While the room is small, it’s packed with unique treasures, including the Liechtenstein royal coronet, an ultra rare ‘Apple Blossom’ Fabergé Egg, and even a piece of moon rock from the Apollo 11 mission.

The 1901 Fabergé Apple Blossom Easter Egg is rumoured to be worth £30 million

For culture lovers, another must-see in Vaduz is the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein, a contemporary art museum showcasing international and local talent in a striking, modern building. If you are not into modern art, however, it may not be for you. Even if you only get a stamp in your passport, Liechtenstein is worth a visit. Go explore and make memories!

Cherry Blossom Season

by BJM Publishing, posted in Events and Festivals, Gardens and/or Museums

Cherry blossom – or sakura – season in Tokyo, Japan is truly a magical experience. Thousands of trees burst into bloom, dousing the streets with stunning shades of pink. The flowers are a national obsession and people flock to parks to hold hanami (picnic) parties. Often featuring food, drinks, and social gatherings, these parties take place in parks and gardens to celebrate the short-lived, beautiful blossoms.

Vancouver is arguably the cherry blossom capital of Canada, home to more than 40,000 cherry trees planted across the city beginning to blossom early March to May. In 1925, the mayors of Kobe and Yokohama presented the Vancouver Park Board with five hundred trees of the Ojochin variety for planting at the cenotaph in Stanley Park, in honour of Japanese Canadian veterans of WWI.

In 1958, three hundred more cherry trees were donated by the Japanese consul as a symbol of friendship between Canada and Japan. These trees were soon planted along Cambie Boulevard, between 49th and 33rd Avenues, in Queen Elizabeth Park, and around the cenotaph in Stanley Park. 2025 marked a century since the historic introduction of the Ojochin tree to Vancouver. Over the past hundred years, cherry trees have enticed and enamoured locals and visitors alike; their significance to the city’s arboricultural, cultural, and social landscapes is abundant. Queen Elizabeth Park would be the best place to see the blossoms if you are restricted on time visiting Vancouver.

Generally, late April to early May is the best time to see these blossoms in Ontario. As they only blossom for a week or two at best, it would be wise to check online when optimum dates would be. Places to visit in Toronto include High Park which has approximately 2,000 trees and is extremely popular so walking, cycling or using the subway is highly recommended.

With almost 500 trees, Centennial Park in Etobicoke is home to the second-largest cherry blossom tree collection in Ontario.

Named in honour of Kariya, Mississauga’s sister city in central Japan, Kariya Park is a serene Japanese-inspired garden featuring a pond, boardwalk, pavilion and a beautiful grove of over 300 cherry blossom trees.

Trinity Bellwoods Park (Toronto): Features roughly 70 Sakura trees with iconic views of the CN Tower.
Exhibition Place (Toronto): A quieter spot with a significant canopy of cherry trees near the Princes’ Gate and Princess Margaret Fountain.
University of Toronto (St. George & Scarborough): Several, including a large cluster on Arboretum Lane at the Keele campus and near Robarts Library.

Outside of Toronto is the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington/Hamilton area which features a large collection of tress located south of the lilac dell and the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens in Niagara Falls where cherry trees bloom in mid to late May near the entrance. Shakespearean Gardens in Stratford, Spencer Smith Park in Burlington are other spots.

Top contender in the U.S.A. is The International Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Macon, Georgia, every spring. Macon, known as the “Cherry Blossom Capital of the World,” has around 300,000–350,000 Yoshino Cherry Trees that bloom around the city in late March every year.