And it became winter…

Colorful, enthusiastic, loyal, optimistic, cheerful and self-assured. The seasoned gardener has already noticed, we are talking about the Dahlia. Dahlia tuber, ugly huh?

But before we start selling you all kinds of bulbs and tubers with tempting texts and beautiful photos, I must of course first congratulate you on the wonderful new year 2025 that lies ahead of us.

Funny, just when I'm thinking about how to put that into words as beautifully and sincerely as possible, I get an appie from a dear garden friend. I'm literally going to use her beautiful words because I can't think of them and it's exactly what I want to wish you (I'll also know right away if she reads my newsletter 😊 ).

'Dear people, I wish you all the best for 2025, lots of fun, lots of laughter, beautiful flowers, happy balls and a healthy body'. Dahlia Bluetiful

Another new year is upon us and we are looking forward to it. We are rolling up our sleeves, getting back to work and hopefully we can make just as many people happy with beautiful bulbs and tubers in the coming year as we have managed to do in the past few years. We are looking forward to it.

As of today, you can shop again in the Fluwel webshop. We have greased all the wheels of the shopping carts and you can once again enjoy browsing through our store. Amaryllis Blossom Nymph

Of course, the Amaryllises will also remain available. I still have to talk to you about that, the image of the Amaryllis. Incidentally, one of the largest Westland Amaryllis growers (Arie) made this clever joke 'where you see rollators you can find Amaryllises'. I do like humor, had to laugh at this too but unfortunately it is a bit true? Also that image of a Christmas flower... what nonsense.

The Amaryllis is simply beautiful, colourful and happy. A real flower for the winter, you know, that period between the lights of Christmas and the first Daffodils at Easter… and in between there is also the Sugar Festival, where the later Amaryllis can perhaps also be used as decoration, even though the first spring bloomers will have already appeared by then. In short, the ideal flower for everyone to brighten up those long winter months and give them a bit more colour. I myself try to have the Amaryllis test bulbs in bloom in my greenhouse after the new year. Enjoy the Amaryllis bulbs in January, then Blue Monday can't do you any harm.

This is the greenhouse at the moment, it looks like they are in full bloom but they are just the first ones, most are yet to come and if you are in the area you are always welcome.

By the way, we also have a summer flowering bulb in our assortment with a completely unjustified old-fashioned reputation. You probably guessed it, that's exactly what I mean: the Handje-klap-Begonia. Just kidding, this is what I mean. The Begonia tuber covered with root hair

The Begonia is a real workhorse in the garden, Moses Pietjes how it can bloom. And colours that go right through all cataracts and other eye clouding. What a party, that Begonia, what a cosiness in the garden. Actually we only sell a cap full of Begonias but it is the tuber that we get the most, sometimes quite surprised, positive reactions to. Almost always about the unexpected rich flowering. Of course, there are also people who poop, they are always there, that is part of it. They then grumble about the mess that comes from all those faded flowers. Fine, no more Begonia plants. I think they are the kind of people who never throw a party because of the hassle with the empty glasses afterwards. Seriously, if you are not familiar with Begonia, it is well worth a try. The photo above was sent to us by a happy customer Begonia On-top Sunset Shades, beautiful isn't it

What else can I say, oh yes, the Dahlia. Did you know that the Dahlia has actually suffered from the same reputation crash as, for example, a Begonia or Amaryllis? Perhaps not even 5 years ago, there was no going around in the Dahlia. Dahlia growers were scraping by, there was hardly a dry slice of bread to be earned with the Dahlia. It was only when we all had to stay home for a while because the nursing staff was stuck due to a nasty virus that the Dahlia was rediscovered. The housebound good community started gardening a bit more and many of those who planted dahlias must have fallen hopelessly in love with the Dahlia because nowadays they can't be dragged away anymore. Dahlia Missis Miley

To be honest, I myself am secretly a bit in love with the Dahlia. The title of the newsletter is also spot on. The Tulip is the uncrowned queen of flower bulbs, but as unique as the Tulip is in the spring garden, the Dahlia is in the summer flowering border. For months she blooms happily, you can pick her flowers and she shines.

We have done our best to make the assortment as interesting as possible. Vlad just told me that of the 100+ varieties we offer this year, 21 are new to our assortment. But I'm going to stop because I have a nice outing this afternoon. Next week I'll tell you more about the Dahlias. Soon on the train to Amsterdam for a reunion of the founders of the Amsterdam Tulip Museum. Three older youngsters (60+) who are going to fish old cows out of the ditch while enjoying a pikketanissie, tall tales and a bite. I don't even know how long ago it was that Tim and I, in a too sociable mood, convinced Sjoerd to start the Amsterdam Tulip Museum with us. That was a great time, tonight we're sitting down together. Looking forward to it.

Are we still in the Amsterdam Tulip Museum? No, Sjoerd runs the shop (Nice shop by the way, if you like tulips you can find the most special souvenirs there) Tim is curator of the Amsterdam Tulip Museum and we tapped out after about five years, when we started Land van Fluwel. I'll be back next week.

Kind regards,

Carlos van der Veek

Lilium Anouska

Sjips, Lilies. Almost forgot to say. In recent years, the lily bulbs were well below par, poorly grown and hardly or no thick bulbs. This year they are back to normal. Beautiful thick bulbs, real Fluwel quality. And the good news: Roselily Anouska and Lilium auratum are back.