how many?

How many tulips does it take to make a tulipophile extremely elated?

Well, I think I know the answer.

This many.

Plus these.

And these.

And a few more.

 

These, too.

 

And especially these.

I booked my quick trip to Holland in January, and have been on tenterhooks all spring. I was taking a gamble on nature and terrified that I might have mistimed my visit. But the end of last week was the only time I could go in between school holidays, Simon's various trips abroad for work, having a Spanish exchange student to stay, and the small matter of teeth extractions for Phoebe.

This time last year, the tulips were more or less finished. But this year I was lucky; the cool and wet season which I've moaned about in other contexts has been a tulip-blessing, and it turned out that I couldn't have timed my jaunt better. There were millions of tulips in full bloom both in the fields around Leiden and at the Keukenhof Gardens - resplendent, brilliant, vibrant, tall, healthy and utterly wonderful.

It's quite something when you first come across this flat landscape streaked with long, thin lines of pure colour - yellows, oranges, pinks, purples, reds, whites. The way the growers transform the view with glorious stripes and blocks of densely planted bulbs for just a brief moment of the year is breathtaking. And when you get into a field and see the flowers both up close and in the long, long perspective of the neat rows, it's hard not to feel light-headed with elation.

I went twice; first to see the fields and get over my excitement (which, I admit, I could hardly contain), and again the next day to see tulips planted for show at the Keukenhof - all four and a half million of them. I like that number; it's a good answer to 'how many?'

Photos to come.

Comments

[Marian]

The moment I saw your photo's I thought, it just looks like the Netherlands! And then I saw your text and smiled! I'm not sure I am always the happiest woman in the world, but after our dull winters the tulips in spring here in Holland makes me the happiest woman in the world. Every week a bunch of tulips on my table, every week the difficulty of making the decision wich color I should take. To be honest I never visited the Keukenhof, but riding through the North of the Netherlands gives me a lot of tulipfields on my way. I hope you had a nice time in my country!

[Luise]

A little over a year ago I, too, visited the Keukenhof Gardens and was completely blown away. I was stunned by the varieties of tulip that are impossible to get, in America, anyway, as well as by how magically the area absorbs the crowds that descend on the place. Thanks for bringing it all back to me -- a special time.

[Alicia P.]

Speeeeechless. O me o my.

[writing you soon :-) ]

[vanessa]

I've enjoyed every moment of your detailed foray into the world of tulips, and this post has to be the climax................ And your excitement is completely contagious! Colour has that effect on me, and your enthusiasm............. just wonderful, thankyou for sharing with us.

[Nonnie]

Tulip heaven! Beautiful photographs!

[Marta Mourão]

I was at the Keukenhof Gardens last year. Lovely place! However, at that time there wasn´t so many tulips. You were lucky!

[Inkivääri]

I don't know how many, but enough perhaps;)

[carla]

Huau :)