Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar welcomes visitors to the Dutch Ambassador's Residence during the 2024 Tulips Days.
The 2024 Dutch Tulip Days celebration was held April 10-12 at the Dutch Ambassador's residence in Kalorama, with Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar hosting the showcase dedicated to the themes of freedom, innovation, and sustainability. The Netherlands has over 54,000 acres of flower bulbs, and exports nearly half a billion tulip bulbs to the US yearly. Dutch Floral Master Susanne Schrijvers, who has arranged the exhibition previously, as well as served as a florist in the Obama, Trump and Biden White Houses, arranged the nearly 15,000 tulips. For the exhibition, Schrijvers used Bloomia, a Virginia-based American company with Dutch owners that imports its bulbs from the Netherlands. To emphasize the relationship with the U.S. and honor the residence's place in Washington, D.C., Tulip Days also incorporated native plants displays from the mid-Atlantic region.Read about the history of the residence, tulips' role in the Netherlands, and US-Dutch bilateral relations, in Kalorama's Dutch Beauty Riot.
The pollinator gardens at the Embassy of Tunisia. Photo by Diplomatica Global Media
From wild gardens that encourage pollinators, to hosting local beekeepers' hives, there are a number of ways to foster biodiversity this spring, regardless of budget or space.~ See how embassies and ambassador's residences are incorporating native landscaping in Redefining Environmental Diplomacy.~ Learn how the Embassy of Switzerland is using its bee ambassadors to foster goodwill with its neighbors.~ Get some inspiration from the Embassy of Canada, one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in Washington, with a green roof, thriving container garden, and living exterior walls. (And no, they didn't get the property as a thank you for the Canadian Caper.)~ Want to do some planting of your own? Diplomatica advisor Lise Howe shares her list of native plants that should be in gardens in the Washington DC area or join a volunteer pollinator plant gardening gathering along Connecticut Avenue in north Van Ness.~ Need some guidance on greening your property? Diplomatica offers complimentary consultations providing certified urban gardening advice and guidance on making your building or property more sustainable through LEED. Get in touch.
Diplomatica's Embassy Calendar is a curated list of events happening at, or organized by, embassies, cultural centers, ambassadors' residences, and other diplomatic properties in Washington, D.C., and online.
~ As the cherry blossoms fade, so too is it the last call for Color Me Pink!, an immersive collaboration brought to life by the Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The exhibition showcases eight original artworks inspired by the gifted cherry blossoms, intertwined with the National Cherry Blossom Festival's ongoing efforts to plant new trees. Closes April 19, at the JICC.
The Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain is hosting its Spring Open House the weekend of April 26. Avoid the crowds at EU Open House! And read about the history of the building that now serves as Spain's cultural center, in "The Inside-Out Residence."
The Embassy of the Netherlands is hosting its annual Freedom Concert at the Netherlands Carillon on May 5th. Highly recommended to bring your own folding chairs/picnic blankets. Learn about the carillon's history and restoration, and the recently-added bells, on New Dutch Bells Ring Out Over Washington.
In conjunction with her participation in the group exhibition New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024, at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Embassy of Canada in Washington is presenting a solo exhibition of work by Meryl McMaster.
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