fields of dreams

   

By the time I left the Keukenhof Gardens, it seemed like there was at least one person per bulb in the place -all seven million of them. I'd guessed it would be busy so arrived as early as I could (the gardens open refreshingly early at 8.00) so when I saw the 10 mile queue of cars headed into Lisse as I left, I felt rather pleased with myself.

So I am amazed I managed to take a few photos without a billion humans in each one. It took some doing and I would have liked to have some stepladders with me for some aerial shots and to cut out the people who spoil the views...

The Keukenhof is big enough to have a huge diversity of tulip- and general bulb-planting styles and experiments. So there are formal, linear beds of single varieties (above) which mimic the bulb-fields, and there are the multi-coloured drifts which aren't so much pick 'n' mix as mix 'n' pick in all sorts of sweet colours. This example below works so well because it keeps to one single type of tulip (lily flowered).

There are some lovely two-colour beds which throw all colour-caution to the winds and which make me think immediately of quilt pieces,

and sometimes there are three-colour patches like this one which made me want to find a fabric version immediately.

 

There are beds in full sun (below) and plantings in woodland where a delicate, dappled light is cast onto on the flowers and stops them from opening up too quickly.

like this (below).

I also liked seeing tulips near buildings - giving an idea of how they work in gardens. Mind you, I've never seen such a brilliant shed in any garden I know. And how about that for a living roof?

I even enjoyed the contrast of a more mellow setting which matches paler tulips to softer wood colours.

Just looking at all these photos again gives me frissons of excitement. I phoned Simon as I was walking around and told him it's possible to hire bikes at the Keukenhof to cycle round the bulb-fields and avoid the crowds. Suddenly he seemed interested in tulips and said he'd come with me next year. It's a date.

Comments

[wren]

Died and gone to tulip heaven.

[Jeb in Canada]

Hello Jane,

I love reading your blog updates and have just began reading your "Gentle Art of Domesticity" this morning! What a great way to start the day, thinking of all the possibilities in the garden, of books to read, or things to taste, pictures to paint...

thanks for sharing your creativity with the world!

[Rachel]

Wow - I love that building with a planted roof! The colors and amounts of flowers in your photos are amazing!

[mindfulbeader]

What an amazing yellow shed! Not possible for me as I live in a conservation area. I'm planning to ask for tulip bulbs for my next birthday!

[chan]

Dear Jane, Looking at these photos makes me very envious as I live in Argentina where interesting bulbs are few and far between. In fact, even in spring tulips are not really sold in flower stalls (!!). The other day I nearly fainted with joy when I found a striped tulip here, somthing I have never seen in my years here. (So I think asking for parrot tulips would be a bit too much, although I live in hope). I love reading your blog - I found out about in on Woman's Hour when you were a guest. I loved your "Well WHY NOT?" attitude. I think that's the attitude that makes one go on to create beautiful things, as you have. Why not, indeed? Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay and thank you for sharing the photos.

[materfamilias]

Wow! Just wow! Thank you for these beautiful photographs. Gorgeous, succulent colour!

[Françoise]

To think I lived so close to Holland and never saw the tulip fields! Next year maybe. I, too, loved that yellow shed with its living roof.
Chan in Argentina, I am pretty certain that Dutch bulbs would be available to you via catalogue. Couldn't they be given a few extra month of dormancy in your refrigerator? I know tulips grow in South Africa, so the hemisphere angle must be manageable.

As always, Jane, you have made the day more beautiful for all of us. Thank you

[Angela]

I have loved your tulip posts. I grew up in Iowa and made the trip to my grandparents home near Pella to see the tulips and eat Dutch Letters. Alas, I now reside in a climate all but too warm for tulips so your photos bring back lovely memories.
Thanks for sharing!

[elizabeth a airhart]

good day tis 9:45 am
may 7 florida us of a

my memories are full of tulips from my years in the north
i dearly love the merry girls of
of spring
and iris my indiana ancestors
called them flags -thank you
for this lovely visit

[Mary K. in Rockport]

I was just about to say that your photos already resemble a quilt when I got to the part where YOU say that. I wonder if there's some way to turn that beautiful tri-color (well, four colors if you count the green) picture into a fabric?

[Michaela]

It's such a pleasure to begin my work day at your blog! The postings, the pictures, and your passion not only for tulips and knitting (tho I find myself following you there on both counts), but also for every aspect of your life. I am running out to get your book, "Gentle Art ..." You remind us that every day is a special gift to be enjoyed, and I sometimes forget that. You inspire me to live my life more fully, and for that I thank you. ^_^

[Chrissy]

Wonderful rich colours. I didn't know such beauty existed.
Perfect photos too!

[Michaela]

Now I discover that I cannot get "The Gentle Art of Domesticity" until Sept 1, 08 because I live in the US and it is not published here yet - I choose to treat this delay as having something wonderful to look forward to as the days once more begin to grow shorter ... what a nice coincidence!

[jenny b harris]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[Mieke]

Great pfotos, you've made a great advertisement for the Keukenhof. I have never been there, but after seeing this I know I have to go (at 8.00 am). Easy for me, as I am living only 25 km from there.

[Vicki in Michigan]

Wow. Nice job taking pics without people! I, too, prefer my pics without, and it can be hard to do.

My favorite is the lily-flowered ones. Mmmmmmmmm.

[Cassie Kemp]

So beautiful Jane. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Lucy]

So wonderful! The air must smell heavenly there, with all that tulip freshness.

[Ellen]

No need to tiptoe through those fields - there's so many! They are absolutely gorgeous.

[Hazel]

I have long been threatening to paint my shed purple (when I get it) I might just!

[maritza]

Is it my imagination or is spring more lush than usual this year ?

if I was there,in the fields of tulips, I would have to sing ( in a squeaky voice )'tip-toe through the tulips ' ( remember that horribly infectious song by Tiny Tim from ions ago ? )

the tulips are almost finished in my London garden but the alliums are peeking through.....

and it's Chelsea in a fortnight - yeah !

[Sue]

I wish I'd appreciated the splendour of the tulips when I went with my parents 42 years ago. Sadly it was lost on me then, but your photos have made me think that if I went again now I would appreciate it very much indeed!

[mathea]

I agree, that image of three different tulip types should have been a fabric. How about printing it yourself by using some of those prepared fabric sheets that you put in your printer? http://www.cottonpatch.co.uk/acatalog/Supplies_Printing_Fabric.html

[catherine]

Not only are the tulips completely stunning, your photos are so beautiful Jane. All of them would make lovely postcards (esp the yellow shed - I'd like a shed like that!). And yes, quilt inspiration abounds.

[Sally McEntire]

AK! Those are beautiful!

[sherde10]

Hi Jane
what a feast for the senses. Have you ever thought of designing fabric?
Enjoying you book immensly.
xxx

[dana]

Thanks so much for your lovely tulip photos. My dear friend was lucky enough to visit the Keukenhof last spring and brought back some bulbs for me. They are just blooming in a pot by my front door-a deep dramatic red with parroty petals. Here in the Pacific Northwest we too have tulip fields, which tourists travel to see. There is no eye candy quite an intense mass of tulips in the sunshine. They are like glowing goblets of colored light.

[knitting nix]

So beautiful....

[Margot K]

All of the photos are artfully taken. I most like the final one with soft colors near the natural wood building. That photo warms my romantic heart.It speaks of a home blessed with dapled light, the gift of sheltering trees where outdoor life can be lived most pleasantly.

[Chan]

Dear Françoise - thank you for the suggestion about mail order bulbs.. but unfortunately Argentina does not in any way allow the importation of any kind of seed / bulb / plant material. It's all strictly forbidden. Unless you are a business of course. But even that's pretty tricky. Plus import duty is 50% of value of the goods except if it's books. So the answer is that I will have to live without beautiful bulbs for a while longer. In the mean time I will enjoy them on lovely blogs like Jane's.

[vix]

Wow the colours are so brilliant they look fake!! Thanks for sharing these amazing veiws.

[Jane]

What an inspirational shed (as well as the tulips, of course).

I presume you've seen this pattern?

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring03/PATTtiptoe.html

I finished my second pair last night, they're good fun.

[kmkat]

Tulips in a slightly different setting:
http://creategermany.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/05/a-comfortable-r.html

[jennifer at pink ric rac]

OMG! Love those pics!

PS- Come on over! I'm doing a giveaway at my place! :)

[Naomi]

Tulips under the tall green trees - just beautiful!

[Poppy Black]

How exciting. Actually I think one tulip is enough to make a tuliphile elated! They are divine. Even more exciting for me because my lovely mummy and daddy are on their big OE and have just been to Keukenhof too. They loved it. Gosh your photos are just amazing! What is the next book going to be about? Can't wait for your cooking one :)!XXX

[Melanie]

What a wonderful feast for the eyes and what a great idea to go to Holland, which looks anything but flat and dreary (I'm allowed to say that as I come from Lincolnshire). For a spectacular display,the daffodils, snowdrops and crocus at Hampton Court Palace are pretty good, but it pales in comparison to these vivid tulips.

[lynne Robinson]

Your photos bring back fond memories of my own visits to the Keukenhof Gardens when we lived in the Netherlands from 1989-1991. Glorious, heh?

Lovely, lovely photos.

[Christian]

are the flowers on the yellow shed pansies or miniature tulips?

[Linnea]

Hi Jane, the buttery colored tulips third picture from the bottom, are amazing. That is my favorite picture!! What a trip!

[Anne-Marie]

I've been reading your blog for months now, but I don't think I ever left a comment. Your photos are beautiful, and they are what keeps me coming back. Coincidentally, I went to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Western Washington (north of Seattle)(http://www.tulipfestival.org/index.php). Althought they don't have the long-standing tradition of the Keukenhof gardens, they have very pretty tulips too...