RIYADH: On a weekday afternoon, Riyadh residents can be seen strolling between flower beds and monuments of sunflowers, dahlias, roses, and lilies — a rare sight in a desert city.
But in the Kingdom’s capital, spring sprung when its latest entertainment zone, Boulevard Flowers, opened to the public on April 16, bringing people of all ages and nationalities to discover the colorful and creative designs.
A Zimbabwean visitor, Eve Dube, told Arab News: “I didn’t think I would see a lot of Africans here, to my surprise. I’m seeing all nationalities: Africans, Chinese, Filipinos, and I was like ‘Oh my god, I wasn't expecting that. It’s a beautiful gathering of all cultures.”
Dube took her friend Clara Garanowako to Boulevard Flowers for her birthday “to enjoy some nature,” she said.
She said that it is her first time seeing something like this because there is nothing similar to this scale in Zimbabwe. “I was wowed when I came in, I don't know what to say. This was not what I was expecting … Saudi Arabia is just something else (with) what they did here.”
Garanowako added: “I’m really happy, the place is calm, the flowers are blooming. It’s like you connect with nature, which is so nice. I’m so happy!”
Just opposite Boulevard World, this floral experience is set on 214,000 sq. meters, with 200 million flowers on display and about 2,000 floral sculptures. These include more than 100 varieties of flowers and plants in 50 different colors set in beds stretching over 8,500 meters.
“The place feels like I’m somewhere abroad, like Malaysia, so I’m so pleased that there’s a space like this here,” southerner Hussain Ahmed, who brought his two children Najd and Fazaa along with his wife Sarah to the new experience, told Arab News.
“I brought the kids here to have fun, but I wasn’t expecting this …We’re grateful to our leaders who made all of these new experiences possible in Saudi Arabia.”
Boulevard Flowers is a unique place to spot different plant species, allow children to learn more at the kids zone, or meet some new friends at the Pet Birds area.
Roaa Bandar, 11, told us she felt “so excited” as she walked through the gates to the garden. She was wearing a white and yellow flower crown that she picked at one of the flower kiosks to match her dress.
“The place is so beautiful and I want to thank King Salman and the crown prince for making such a place that’s so amazing and refreshing. I really liked it and I hope everyone likes it,” she said.
Salem, 13, and 10-year-old Mohammed Aljwaiser, who came to the event with their parents, told us that it was their favorite so far out of the three Boulevard sites.
“I felt comfortable as soon as I entered,” Salem said, while Mohammed added: “(When) I first came in, seeing all the flowers was such a nice feeling and the sounds were so relaxing.”
The brothers really enjoyed seeing the Saudia Airlines installations that were covered in floral paintings and the ballerina flower sculptures.
Salem said he also loved spending time at the Pet Birds section, which features more than 56 types of birds, such as the red-tailed black cockatoo and the Macaw parrots, other unique and rare birds such as the Turaco and Nicobar pigeon, and other rare types such as the flamenco, crowned cranes, and curlews.
Visitors can enter for an additional fee to take pictures, hold and play with the birds, or just enjoy the atmosphere. The birds are all trained not to hurt guests.
Boulevard Flowers welcomes visitors daily from 4pm to midnight.
