If you want to take a leaf out of the book of the elite and see your social life flower, then here are some of the biggest events of the year for garden-lovers:

The International Trade Fair for Plants (IPM) in Essen, Germany is the world’s leading trade fair for horticulture. More than 1500 exhibitors from 50 countries will display their products and services dealing with every stage of the value chain of plants from production to garden features (28 – 31 January 2014)

Image Source: IPM Essen

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s line-up of prestigious gardens never fail to make headlines around the world. In addition to a wide variety of fascinating garden designs, the show offers find dining opportunities and this year, light opera by twilight (20-24 May 2014)

Bildquelle: Swamibu (some rights reserved)

Holland’s annual Tulip Festival in the Noordoostpolder allows visitors to marvel at the colourful spectacle created by acres of tulip fields. A variety of special activities take place during the festival, including walks and cycles and photography exhibitions (16 April – 4 May 2014).

Image Source: wytze (some rights reserved)

The RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show is in many ways similar to the Chelsea Flower Show but set in magnificent tudor surrounds. Highlights in 2013 included the butterfly dome, featuring tropical plants; practical demonstrations and conceptual gardens challenging conventional ideas about design (8-13 July 2014).

Image Source: sarahgardenvisit (some rights reserved)

All year round, the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore offers a number of attractions including the 50m high supertree grove, and the cloud forest, a mountain covered in lush vegetation, featuring the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. (You can also read more about other gardening attractions to bring you a bit of green during the bleak midwinter here.)

Image Source:  thebeautyofpeace (some rights reserved)

Main Image: thebeautyofpeace (some rights reserved)