Tulip fever

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I am feeling excited, very excited.  I love tulips and have grown them in pots and in the ground here every year since we came over nine years ago.  On a cold grey February morning I was having a cup of tea with a friend and we got to talking about the bulb fields in the Netherlands and the gardens at Keukenhof.  My friend used to live in Leiden, right on the doorstep of all of this.  I confessed I had always wanted to go.  "Well we should, of course we should.  We should go this spring.  Let's look at flights.." and in half an hour we were booked with flights and accommodation.  Ian was happy to hold the fort here and with my dad.  For weeks it felt a bit pretend.  But it is here, now, today.  This afternoon we fly to Amsterdam.


Will it really look like this?


Or this?


Or this?

These images are all from holland.com but I will come back with some of my own.

This is exactly the sort of visiting I love.  My friend knows Leiden well and still has friends there.  We have rented an apartment and might well rent bikes.  I shall piggyback on her local knowledge and that will be marvellous.  I love a good hotel but I also love the way that a connection with place allows you to taste, just for a few days, what it might be like to live somewhere else.

Off to pack my bag.  Can't wait!

Comments

  1. MsCaroline20 April 2015 at 12:52

    Oh, I'm jealous, but I'll look forward to hearing all about your travels. It's been glorious to see tulips again after so long (you never saw them anywhere in Korea except the odd pot or municipal planting.) I've been taking photos of all the gardens (neighbors probably think I'm crazy.) I hope you have a wonderful time with your friend!

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  2. Sue in Suffolk20 April 2015 at 12:59

    Have a good time, it seems to be a good year for tulips here so I hope you see lots there

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  3. Elizabeth20 April 2015 at 17:14

    How thrilling!
    A book you might enjoy is Deborah Moggach's Tulip Fever.
    I loved it!

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  4. Anneke20 April 2015 at 17:54

    I hope you have a wonderful time in my homeland (though it feels like another lifetime now). The Keukenhof is a great place and I wish you great weather to enjoy it all. You may be on the way already as I write this ….

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  5. VP20 April 2015 at 18:33

    Fabulous - have a great time! I've always wanted to go, so I hope you can give me some tips when you get back :)

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  6. CJ20 April 2015 at 19:38

    I've heard it's absolutely sensational. I hope you have a wonderful time, I shall look forward to seeing your photos.

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  7. lilac and old roses20 April 2015 at 22:42

    Fantastic! Have a great time, Jane x

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  8. Anna20 April 2015 at 22:57

    Oh have fun Elizabeth! Look forward to hearing more about your trip and all those tulips on your return.

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  9. materfamilias21 April 2015 at 00:20

    Oh my goodness, have a wonderful time! We were there four years ago and had such a beautiful afternoon cycling around the tulip fields after walking the more formal gardens. Spectacular! Can't wait to see the photos

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  10. ellen b.21 April 2015 at 01:16

    Beautiful. We are treated to wonderful tulip fields in Washington State, too. I'm always in such awe to see the fields filled with different colored rows of tulips. Such a good choice to book and go!

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  11. Susan Heather22 April 2015 at 06:35

    How wonderful - much jealousy here.

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  12. Marcheline22 April 2015 at 13:05

    Oh, how fabulous! I hope you have a great time, and looking forward to seeing your photos when you return!

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  13. newwoman22 April 2015 at 20:29

    Enjoy your mini holiday Elizabeth-you deserve some 'me' time
    We went seven years ago and it is definitely an amazing place to visit
    If you get a chance -do visit the Bloemencorso -which is being held this weekend-absolutely amazing-this is a flower parade between the cities of Haarlem and Leiden
    Best Wishes
    Pat

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  14. The Quirky Bird Gardener23 April 2015 at 15:23

    A well deserved break, have a great time and look forward to seeing your photos :)

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  15. Friko27 April 2015 at 22:21

    A trip to the Keukenhof at tulip time. For a tulip over that’s paradise. My tulips are doing fine; perhaps it’s time I replace a few varieties?
    I hope you had/are having a glorious time.

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  16. Annie Cholewa27 April 2015 at 23:12

    Oh my! Here's hoping you've had a fabulous tulip-filled time :o)

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  17. Anonymous28 April 2015 at 09:22

    Awaiting your return with anticipation!

    (I also had a friend who lived in Leiden, for years - never visited her at the right time. Rats.)

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  18. Elizabeth Musgrave30 April 2015 at 13:31

    Thank you to every one for your good wishes! It was great. Blog report on its way!

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