The Vereniging Haarlemmermeer-Cebu City invited the USC dance troupe to perform a series of folk dances at the Floriade. The once-in-a-decade Floriade is only held in the Netherlands. Since 1960 it has evolved into a grand concept of the symbiosis between man and nature. This year, the sister city of Cebu City in Europe, Haarlemmermeer, is hosting Floriade 2002 from April to October.
The Floriade is a grand indoor and outdoor exhibit of plants, shrubs, vines, hedges, fruits, flowers, crops, vegetables, trees, forest, and nature reserves, as well as interesting concepts in the form of structures, multi-media presentations, etc. from all over the world. At the Floriade, countries exhibit the best of their products for several months.
The 65-hectare sprawling Floriade 2002 is a myriad of concepts within a greater concept founded in nature. The architect Nick Rosen came up with three sections for its theme Feel the Art of Nature. The first is the Roof Section which encourages one to open his senses and feel his surroundings at a heightened level; the second is the Hill Section where man and nature blend their art and development; the third is the Lake Section where nature abounds in various growths and forms. All over Floriade 2002 destination signs point to the numerous areas and special spots. Each of the Floriade's two entrances also have maps and submaps.
However, there are two special features that are not confined to any one section. The first is the path that is known as the Green Lottery Path. This path is one's guide to environmental and sustainable themes in different locations. The second is The Source, or rather what comes out of it. The Source is the spring from which water flows to the other sections. The Source with its rising solid sandstones weighing 600 tons looks like a modern version of the Hedgestones. Its two vertical structures soar to a height of eight meters, the heaviest of which weighs a daunting 40 tons. The Source is located at the Roof Section.

The Roof Section
Following the water that flows from the Source, one comes upon a brook and a pond. By the brook grows a fruitful vineyard. This exhibit by the Dutch Association of Wine Growers has 80 vines of special varieties such as the Reisling, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Ros. Different methods are used to cultivate each variety. One may partake of the wine tasting conducted on weekends. The water from The Source also flows into a pond where Canada's exhibit of sculptured geese frozen in moments of take off is visible from a distance.
The Roof Section holds exhibits from a wide collection of cut flowers, bulbs, potted plants, shrubs, perennials, fruits, crops, and vegetables. This section is named after its impressive achievement, the solar Roof, which measures 30,000 sq. meters. This mega solar power station is the largest integrated solar roof in the world. Its surface area of three hectares is fitted with 20,000 panels that can generate 2.3 MW electricity. That is enough power to support 400 households. Floriade 2002 consumes 3M kilowatt-hours of natural power.
The solar Roof is yellow and so reminiscent of bright and sunny days. Under the Roof one of the three hectares is totally enclosed. Its glass doors measuring six meters high seal in the temperature. This area is where experts from the Floriade Assessment Commission judge competitions. It is also used for indoor exhibits, of which 4,000 sq. meters are dedicated to houseplants from (sub)tropical regions. Tropical countries in particular such as Indonesia, Thailand, Kenya, Brazil and Costa Rica exhibit in this area. The remaining 6,000 square meters is used for 12 main shows, 16 interim shows, and 13 exhibitions. Exhibits and shows may focus on one type of plant, crop, groups of flowers, or themes.
The Roof extends over an open area with rolling landscape planted with evergreens. Oleanders, date palms, argave, calistemon, and others grow in the Subtropical Valley. France and Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Spain,