Keukenhof 2009

Rey's ex-colleague and friend, Benny, from his previous company Philips Semiconductors-Calamba (now, NXP, er, STMicroelectronics), who currently works for a Norway-based solar panel manufacturer, came to visit us on the Easter weekend along with his co-worker and "backpacking buddy" Prez. From Norway they flew to Germany (Dusseldorf-Weeze), then travelled by train from Weeze to the Netherlands.They arrived at the Amsterdam Central Station Thursday afternoon, and spent the night at the Dutch capital; went sightseeing to Rotterdam the next day (they just have to take a picture of the Erasmus bridge!), and finally proceeded to 's-Hertogenbosch. Since they almost saw all the popular landmarks in the Netherlands, we brought them to Keukenhof the following day. After all, this world-renowned tourist spot is only open during the spring, and a must-see for every tourist...They had luck with the weather, for it was really heerlijk! Benny, a photography-aficionado, had a great time taking pictures of these famous flowers...

*Click on thumbnails for larger view

Our Norwegian guests :) (L-R Benny,Prez)

Keukenhof 2009

*from Benny's camera

framed!



at the windmill's viewing deck


blossoms and bosoms ;-)

white cherry blossoms

When Is the Best Time to See the Flowers in Bloom?

The perfect time to visit the Keukenhof Gardens, is always up to Mother Nature. Since the tulips are very temperature sensitive, each year, that week of the "perfect bloom" can always vary, depending if it's a long winter, which is the case this year, and early visitors will still see some closed blooms. Or an early spring, which means tulips can be in full bloom as early as mid-March. However, it is no reason to fret if you did not have a glimpse of the very popular almost black-deep purple "Queen of the Night" (sorry Ben, hindi pa sya bumubukadkad, reyna kasi eh!), for before the tulips, come the narcissi and hyacinths whose beautiful, sweet fragrance are so wonderfully strong(BUT not overpowering) you can even smell it from the road outside.

sensational scent from this purple hyacinth

red,blue,white hyacinths

In the west, the Narcissus flower is seen as a symbol of vanity(Greek Mythology), in China, the same flower is seen as a symbol of wealth and good fortune...

It's been 3 years-in-a-row since 2007 that we visit the Keukenhof, and each year Mother Nature never fails to surprise us...We may have been too early for some of the tulips inside the park, BUT, we were just in time for the real wondrous sight outside, the endless fields of tulips, before they are beheaded :(. Note that these flowers are not for the cut flower industry, but for the bulb industry (for planting). Achieving healthy bulbs means cutting the blooms at just the right time, which is just after the peak of beauty we visitors are waiting to see.

The Lisse tulipen boerderij (tulip farms) are just a short walk from the Keukenhof Gardens. To cruise through the bulb-farmers' fields , no entry fee is required, but of course people should be aware that this is a farm, and must be careful not to step on the flowers during picture taking. Not that anywhere else it's excused;I believe that it's never okay to trample on these flowers just so you can compose that "unique" artistic shot.

The arrangements inside the park are always picturesque and stunning, BUT, a vast tulip field is a breathtaking sight with it's array of colorful tulips.Beyond compare! These sandy patches during the rest of the year, transform into a colorful carpet of red, pink, purple, orange and yellow blooms during spring...B E A U T I F U L! (Some tourists who are in-the-know, and locals as well, even skip Keukenhof and just stroll along the flower fields)

There is a 1-foot gap between rows, to allow people to "step inside" the flower fields...

endless rows

"Ben,Prez, mahilig din pala kayo sa tulips ha ;-) Joke3x"

Talking about unexpected wonders, we saw a very cute surprise growing in the middle of the fields :)

"baby bloom"

After taking in the spectacular view (translation: full na ang memory card! kung may space pa, hindi pa kami uuwi), we went back to the car and headed for home :) 'Twas a great day for everybody.

...and they took the road less travelled by

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!