For the Love of Tulips

Our day out at Keukenhof was amazing.  The endless displays of dazzling tulips, hyacinths and daffodils set out in both formal and naturalistic styles really blew me away. 

Keukenhof is essentially a trade show and is open for just 8 weeks of the year during which they receive around 900,000 visitors.  It takes 30 gardeners 4 months to hand plant 7 million bulbs.  Yes, that's planted by hand in the 32 hectare site every year from scratch.  All the bulbs are lifted and composted and fresh bulbs planted annually to ensure the best possible displays.  Even the lawns are reseeded fresh each year.

My Travelmates and Me

Well here we are about to enter Het Loo Palace and Gardens.  That's me second from the left on the back row and yes, some of us are as mad as we look!

Beautiful Orchids at Keukenhof

These are a few of the beautiful orchids at Keukenhof, best known for their superb displays of tulips but the orchids are a must see too. 

Tulip Mania

I'm so excited, I'm off to Holland tomorrow with some of my fellow students to visit some very special horticultural gems.

We start with a guided tour of the Hortus Botanicus Plantage followed by a walk through nearby parks and Central Amsterdam.  The next day we have a full day coach service to Paleis Het Loo and Gardens and Het Nationale Park de Voge Veluwe.  We then have the option to visit the Kroller Muller Museum.

The following day we are going to the Aaslmeer Flower Auction, I'm hoping to get some great pictures.  Then when you think it can't get any better we're off to the Keukenhof Bulb Fields. 

We end our trip with a guided tour of the Esveld Nurseries and local gardens and a night out to talk tulips before we head back in the morning with many great memories I'm sure. 

Must go and pack but I promise to share my photos with you when I get back.