FOR nine days in May the northern Spanish city of Girona becomes a giant garden with a wealth of scent and colours as it celebrates the festival of ‘Temps de Flors’.

The fiesta, now in its 49th year, sees traditional and innovative displays of flowers and plants in dozens of locations.

Based mainly in the old town, the festival includes monuments, churches, as well as public and private gardens and patios.

Whether you are a keen flower arranger or not the festival is well worth a visit as the doors to some of the most beautiful buildings in the city are opened to the public for these few days. And, if like me, you’re a bit of a nosy parker, it’s the perfect excuse to have a look around.