No news blog

Dear readers, due to busy schedules I unfortunately cannot treat you to a nice story about my experiences last week. Busy busy busy, it's my own fault, doesn't matter. It would have all been fine if I hadn't enthusiastically said yes to a fantastic invitation to give a lecture at a Tulip Festival in America during Easter. I'm really looking forward to it, but taking a break while the Daffodils are starting to bloom and there is a lot of hustle and bustle to get the website in order with the spring bloomers... Yes, I can already reveal that; the Tulips , Daffodils and other spring bloomers can be ordered again from next week, April 16, for delivery next fall. I'll tell you more about that next week.


So I'm flying from pillar to post, writing my head off on all kinds of texts for the new introductions, so I'm skipping the newsletter this week. Well, I can quickly show you what I've come across this week, because the fields are starting to colour here and there. It's a bit later this year than usual, just a tad too cold for the bulbs to grow nicely. But the sun of the past few days has done a lot of good, a lot of good. The Daffodils are suddenly blooming and the Hyacinths are at their peak at the moment. Really beautiful.

KAVB garden in Hillegom

In spring, the week is always one day shorter for me than in winter. On Monday mornings, I always have to make an appearance at the sample gardens of the BKD (Flower Bulb Inspection Service) and the KAVB (Royal General Association for Bulb Culture). The KAVB garden is where the Daffodils and other flower bulbs are planted that have been submitted by various growers to be registered. The BKD is where the flower bulbs are planted for which bulb growers want to apply for plant breeder's rights. Together with a number of other colleagues who have a lot of knowledge, we have to assess whether the Daffodils , Tulips or other flower bulbs in question are truly unique and can be distinguished from the existing range. A fun and educational job, but also something that should definitely be done seriously and with due consideration.

Fluwel stand at Keukenhof from a few years ago.

This garden is located in Hillegom, near Lisse, and while you're there you'll of course also have a look at the Keukenhof. Just to have a look at how our bulbs are doing in the Fluwel stand and of course enjoy all the other beautiful things that can be seen in the Keukenhof. I often also visit a bulb grower in the South or visit Eric Breed's gardens, and before you get home the first day of the week has already passed.


Keukenhof

Perhaps it is also interesting to tell you quickly, because you know, I don't have time, but the Keukenhof is actually a kind of show garden for flower bulb growers. You can register as a flower bulb grower to become a sender, and if you are accepted, you will be assigned a piece of garden by the Keukenhof where you can plant the flower bulbs from your nursery or trade. You will receive some guidance from the Keukenhof regarding the filling in of color, flowering time, but otherwise you are free to show what you want. In the fall you send the bulbs, neatly numbered and labeled in the right numbers for the right planting areas, and the Keukenhof plants and cares for them neatly. A wonderful platform to promote your product.


Every summer there is a beautiful Dahlia show at Kasteel Keukenhof. (Google 'Holland Dahlia Event 2023' for information) Don't forget to order them from us if you also want to enjoy Dahlias this summer.

In this case, Keukenhof hardly needs to buy a single bulb and the bulb growers ensure that, in addition to the standard varieties that they grow, the newest of the newest can also be seen at Keukenhof. If you have a spot at Keukenhof as a grower, and there are a few beautiful new varieties at your nursery, you will of course proudly show them there. In addition to a truly fantastically beautiful public garden, Keukenhof is also a unique location for bulb growers to promote their new varieties and of course to gain knowledge of what new varieties fellow growers have to offer.

Polder garden Anna Paulowna

Did you know that Anna Paulowna also has such a garden: The Poldertuin. If you happen to be in the Kop van Noord-Holland in April / early May, just google it, “Poldertuin Anna Paulowna”. A garden, actually more of a park, that was given to the bulb growers by the municipality of Hollands Kroon and where a couple of enthusiastic, retired bulb growers plant tens of thousands of bulbs every year. A real hidden gem in the flower bulb world. Here too, the bulb growers from the Kop van Noord-Holland show their most beautiful varieties to the general public.

But I have to get back to work, I just wanted to let you know quickly that there will be no newsletter today.

Kind regards.

Carlos van der Veek

PS: my colleagues just keep posting the most beautiful pictures. Follow them on Facebook and Insta .