Glorious Flowers~

My sweet husband indulged my wish to have a

return trip to Keukenhof Gardens in Holland.

Despite missing the peak of the blooming season

we still were able to see so many tulips and

other beautiful flowers in the Garden.

The flowers and bulbs had specific names that I 

am not able to recall, there were so many varities!

~Red Tulips~ 

Keukenhof chooses a theme each year.

The 2011 theme is- 

Germany-Land of Poets and Philosophers

~ Light Pink Tulips-?Bridal Tulip~ 

The garden area of Keukenhof was orginally owned

by Jacqueline Princess of Bavaria for hunting grounds. 

~Narcissus~

 The princess was born in 1401 and after a hard life 

she died of tuberculosis at the age of 35.  The land 

was then taken over by wealthy merchants families.

~Pansy~

 These blue flowers are ready for new planting.

I LOVE the shade of blue.

 ~Pink Tulips~

In 1949, an open air exhibition was organized by

the growers and exporters of this region and they

hosted the first event on these grounds.

~Yellow and Pink Tulips~

 This exhibition was the beginning of the spring flower 

annual event so many visit each year in the same garden.

 15, 000 jobs are filled in the Netherland flower-bulb industry.

 ~Pink Hyacinthus~

10,000 bulbs are produced annually for markets, 

which is about 70% of the world's total production.

~Pinkish Red Tulips~ 

Historically tulips were planted 5 to 8 inches apart.

In modern times we are now accustomed to planting 

tulips much closer together.  In the past, planting tulips 

as close as we do now was a sign of wealth.

 ~Hyacinthus~

This area of Holland is perfect for growing flowers

because of the fertile sandy soils, relatively high 

rainfall in the mild autums and winter seasons.  The dry
and sunny springs add to the perfect growing setting.

~Allium~

 The bulbs produced here are grown on
20, 000 hectares or 49,421 acres of land.

Profits of 600 million Euro are earned through 

exportation of bulbs to over 1 hundred countries.

 ~Yellow and Red Tulips~

The biggest export country,
of bulbs only, is America.
Followed by Japan, go figure....
But Germany leads the pack for cut flowers,
I'm a healthy consumer of these right now!

We learned that the first tulips bloomed

at the base of the Himalaya's.

Royal suppliers in The Netherlands supply

the garden with their best bulbs-every bulb free!

There are 30 gardeners that plant the bulbs and at

the end of each growing season the bulbs are 

lifted out of the grounds.  Then the planting cycle is

repeated once again in the fall to be ready for spring again!

 ~Purple Hyacinthus~

 ~Purple Tulips and Purple Gold Pansies~

 ~Purple Tulips with Purple and White Pansies~

 Cody, Spencer, Imane

 ~Romantic~

 ~The Greenhouse~

 It was fun to see the large vases used in here!

 A wall of flowers, so beautiful!

 ~Hydrangea~

One of my favorites to see!

 I am thinking some smart husband designed these

great "log seats" for weary husband and children

to use while Mother's and Grandmothers browse

the endless beautiful gardens trying to satisfy their 

insatiable "eye appetite" of these flower gardens!

 A DEFINATE sign we are in Holland!
The town of Groningen, Holland built this
windmill in 1892 to regulate water levels.
In 1957 it was then donated to Keukenhof
and fully restored in 2008.

 And another sign. :-)

 Behind Jim are acres and acres of flower beds.

We would LOVE to figure out when these are in bloom.

One can only imagine how these fields will soon look!

 This is more than just a green thumb!

Just another families walk in the park.

 One of my favorites!

I just LOVE the color!!!

My wonderful husband who gave me another wish!

Aaaahhhh, what a lovely garden and what a lovely day!