A flowering wonderland

Credit: courtesy international Bloembollen Centrum Hillegorn Holland

If you’re planning a trip to Europe in spring, consider allocating a day for a visit to the spectacular Keukenhof Garden in Lisse, Holland

In Lisse, Holland’s Keukenhof Garden, more than six million tulips, daffodils, crocuses and other flowering bulbs put on a breathtaking display of colour and form.

The 70-acre (28-ha) garden showcases bulbs at their best – tulips of every imaginable colour, naturalized stands of narcissi in woodland settings and planted ‘rivers’ of blue grape hyacinths.

Keukenhof is only open for six weeks every year. However, when not open, it is still a scene of much activity – the beds are dug up and completely redesigned and another six million bulbs are planted. Even the grass is newly planted each fall.

Jacqueline van der Kloet, chief landscape designer at Keukenhof, has some advice for those who can’t get to see the garden at Lisse:

• Group bulbs together to achieve masses of colour.
• Plant low-growing bulbs in front of higher-growing bulbs such as tulips.
• Plan your plantings in an artistic way, grouping pleasing flower colours together.