Brussels Builds Massive Flower Carpets

Every two years, volunteers cover an entire city square with a living tapestry made of half a million begonias. These floral masterpieces are assembled by hand in just four hours.

The Flower Carpet transforms the historic Grand-Place into a massive, fragrant mosaic that lasts for only a few days. Hundreds of volunteers work together to meticulously place the flowers directly onto the cobblestones without any soil underneath. Because the display is so temporary, it is timed precisely to coincide with mid-August celebrations. It remains one of the world's most impressive examples of short-lived public art.