Cake

Yes, great, finally time to write a news blog. Nice to tell about all the nice things I experienced this spring between the flower bulbs. But of course I have to start with the good news… Cake 60! How did that happen all of a sudden, it wasn't that long ago that I was at school just like the kids. The funny thing is that I don't feel 60 at all, but the real proof that you're that old is always your children. If they get the chance, they rub it in without scruples or batting an eyelid when I can't remember a name again or when I've forgotten something again, but the biggest proof of old age is that two of my daughters suddenly come home with such a snorer. For the dear readers who don't know; a snorer is a guy who suddenly sits at the table, with a big appetite, and starts snoring and then continues to snore. Catastrophe, how nice that is. As a father, you are of course always a little afraid that a guy will come home to your daughters with such a dork who is, so to speak, capable of walking through the desert with a car door on his shoulder. If you ask him why he drags a car door around he answers 'well when it gets really hot I can open the window... it cools down a bit. Fortunately, we are lucky, they are nice guys and they also like whiskey. I have to be honest with all the lovely customers from Belgium; the thing about the car door is actually a joke that we in the Netherlands tell about the Belgians. (Maybe I shouldn't have said that). Gift 😊

But suddenly there are those snorers in the house that are one of the things that shows you are getting older. And then of course on your birthday all those people who happily come up to you to shake your hand, kiss you or sometimes even give you a big hug. Nice, fantastic, nothing wrong with hugging. So go ahead, let's be happy... I'm sixty. Ken Harrop & Frankie Charlton. They spent two days walking among our Daffodils to select the most beautiful varieties

Now back to chatting about bulbs, sorry that you missed the Sunday newsletter a few times in the last few weeks, I didn't have the time. In addition to the Fluwel webshop, we also export quite a few flower bulbs to American and English mail order companies and when these customers come over I take all the time for them to visit growers, go to the Keukenhof and show them as much news as possible. I myself see a lot of news for the Fluwel webshop in this way and you can often learn a lot from these customers because they are not only customers but also fellow mail order companies. And they are all nice people with whom you can enjoy spending the day, just nice. A day goes by so quickly and when you get home towards dark, the photos have to be on the computer first and then you don't feel like writing anymore. That's why there was no news on Sunday morning for a while... but luckily we do have photos. My highlights of this spring. Vlad wrote a nice story about it last week, the World Daffodil Tour, but during the tour the breathtakingly beautiful show in the Slotkapel in Egmond was really phenomenal. Rarely, actually I can say 'never' have I seen such an exhibition where the Narcissus was shown to its best advantage. Hundreds of different Narcissus species were on pots in the church pews, in vases and in flower arrangements at their most beautiful. To be silent about. It was also true that with a number of the participants in the World Daffodil Tour (real Narcissus lovers) the emotion ran so high that tears came into their eyes and sometimes even rolled down their cheeks. Unbelievably very fantastically beautiful. The serene tranquility of such a church, the special light of the beautiful stained glass windows, the abundance of woodwork, everything was simply perfect to put the Narcissus on a pedestal. And it came about from almost nothing, just the question from Eric and me if that boy wanted to provide a lunch for the World Daffodil Tour. Where should we do that? I'll ask if it's possible in the Castle Chapel. Should we also put some Narcissus there? Yes, great, we'll do that. Maybe a few growers from the area would also like to show some new Narcissus. Hey, maybe after the visit of the Narcissus people we can keep the chapel open for a few more days for the people of Egmond to enjoy the Narcissus. If we then give them some flowers to sell, they might be able to earn some money for the maintenance of the church. Without realizing it, they were organizing the most beautiful Narcissus show that has ever been seen anywhere. I know it sounds exaggerated, but I have heard many of the World Daffodil Tour participants say it and they really did visit a Daffodil show here and there. Also one of the most beautiful things about this show was the modesty with which it happened. Three guys from Egmond worked their asses off for a day or so to make this happen, knew full well what a beautiful thing they had accomplished but remained neatly modest in the background. There was only one person speaking: De Narcis. They don't do it themselves so I'll put them in the spotlight. Jos Kuiper, Jan de Waard and Michiel de Waard. A ten with a star, fantastic guys, thank you very much Sjips, I'm already at my tax, I still had so many beautiful things to tell... Quickly back outside to plant my last Dahlias. Do you already have Dahlias for the garden?

Kind regards,

Carlos van der Veek

PS I received these fantastic photos from Ali from Tuinderie in Zuid Laren, Groningen. Ali is one of the many lovely people I met this spring, she was the first participant of the World Daffodil Tour to enter the church. It remains special how many wonderful acquaintances the Narcissus always brings me. By the way, Ali is someone who, like no other, knows how to incorporate the flower bulb in beautiful harmony in breathtakingly beautiful perennial borders. Just take a look at her site: www.de-tuinerie.nl .