Blooming Delights Beyond the Chelsea Flower Show

LONDON, June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

From May 22 to 26, the Chelsea Flower Show brought together a spectacular showcase of the world's most exotic and beautiful blooms. Nature-lovers who visited the prestigious show at Chelsea Hospital can now also take advantage of cheap hiking and walking holidays to see wild flowers in their spectacular natural surroundings.

Wisterias and Snapdragons in Turkey

The 2012 RHS Flower Show included the brand new 'Fresh' zone, which was brimming with innovative design ideas and ingenious new products. Green-fingered Brits can fuel their gardening imaginations further with a trip to the fascinating city of Istanbul. While Turkey is not known for its gardens, native flowers and plants wind through the capital city in a spectacular fashion.

A city break to Istanbul offers the chance to see wisterias scramble across stone buildings and the heart-shaped leaves of the Judas tree dance among the crowded squares. Cycling holidays take visitors deep into Turkey's lush countryside, where crimson poppies and snapdragons flourish among ancient Lycian ruins. World-class rock climbing is also available for the adventurous, who will marvel at dry mountain slopes covered in hyacinth. One of the most beautiful regions in Turkey is Butterfly Valley, where huge jack-in-the-pulpit plants feed crowds of colourful butterflies.

Wild flowers on a Greek odyssey

Family activity holidays to Greece are a great time to introduce young nature-lovers to a brilliant array of wild flora. Wandering off the beaten tourist path will take visitors up mountainside goat tracks cutting through white carpets of camomile. Disused farming fields are filled with rugged barley swaying in the wind with clusters of vivid red peas at their roots. Unusual combinations of yellow buttercups and green Smyrnium flourish in the balmy Mediterranean climate.

Tennis holidays are also a fantastic option for active Brits looking to improve their stroke in the shade of fragrant olive trees, while natural hot black sands beaches offer a tranquil sunbathing experience away from the crowds. A short stroll from the sparkling Greek coastline reveals shadowy valleys filled with ripe juniper berries, which offer a tasty treat at the end of a peaceful picnic.

At the end of a Greek floral adventure, British holidaymakers will be armed with the knowledge and inspiration to create a natural paradise at their own backdoor.

SOURCE Neilson Holidays