Each April, the University Botanical Garden of Balchik spills into a world of tulips. What starts as a gentle hint—tips of green nudging through soil—soon bursts into a bold confession of spring. Circling the garden paths, petals open with a casual confidence, as if the long winter never happened. Yes, the famed Tulip Parade has reached its peak, and anyone with even a faint sense of wonder is drawn to the show. Nature, after all, knows how to put on a spectacle without making a fuss about it.
There’s no need to rush. Blooming stretches through late April, and every morning brings new color combinations—some planned, others happy accidents. Hotel staff slip in before the crowds, catching the first light glancing off dew-covered petals. The parade looks different each day, but the feeling remains the same: a walk through a living painting drenched in light and washed with the sweet, earthy smell of early flowers.
Key scenes scattered throughout the gardens:
- Over 45,000 tulip bulbs in bloom — each one a quiet rival for attention.
- Sixty-three cultivars woven into bold, sometimes mischievous patterns.
- Twenty-seven new varieties this year, with debutantes popping up where you least expect.
- All kinds of tulip personalities: single, double, early, late, and those dramatic fringed or parrot types.
- Companions planted last autumn: hyacinths, narcissus, muscari—each sending up plumes of blue and gold.
- Spring favorites in the mix: violets, forget-me-nots, English daisies, and little pinks, tucked around the edges.
- Best displays—according to those in the know—found in the Nursery Garden and the Divine Garden.
New Faces in the Parade: Tulips with Stories to Tell
Wandering farther, guests land in the Flower Parterre—where tradition meets a bit of experimentation. This year, the parade introduces a handful of stars that refuse to play it safe. Tulipa ‘Carnaval de Nice’ struts in, flaunting white petals whipped with pink and red stripes. The effect is a little like watching an old carnival come back to life: dazzling but not garish, with a nod to spring’s sense of fun.
Elsewhere, a patch of Tulipa ‘Parrot Prince’ glows purple against the neat rows of carnations. Despite their name, these tulips act like the class clowns of the garden—feathery petals tousled by the breeze, colors shifting with every glance. And then there’s ‘La Courtine’, whose understated cup sits quietly in the Divine Garden, looking as if it’s keeping secrets from the crowd.
Highlights among new arrivals:
- Tulipa ‘Carnaval de Nice’ — Double Late Tulip: White with pink and red; blooms in the Flower Parterre.
- Tulipa ‘Parrot Prince’ — Parrot Tulip: Striking and unconventional; graces the Carnation Garden.
- Tulipa ‘La Courtine’ — Triumph Tulip: Subtle and elegant; draws quiet admirers in the Divine Garden.
By the end of April, colors start to soften and shift, but the energy never leaves. A visit to the University Botanical Garden of Balchik becomes a memory bank of petals underfoot, garden scents on the breeze, and sunlight glancing off hotel uniforms as staff slip out for one more look before closing time. Even the earliest risers and latest lingerers find something unexpected—a patch of color, a sudden fragrance, or a quiet corner where winter finally lets go.
Practical details for the curious or the restless:
- The University Botanical Garden of Balchik welcomes visitors daily from 08:30 am until 19:00 pm.
- The full diversity of the Tulip Parade is best seen in mid-to-late April.
- With beds alive from dawn to dusk, there’s always something new to notice—no two days are identical and no two blooms are the same.
Petal by petal, the garden tells its own story. For those working behind hotel counters and in quiet hallways, escape into the Tulip Parade isn’t just a lesson in color—it’s a reminder that spring rewards those who pause, breathe, and let themselves get a little lost.
