Susan's NGTAW Blog: Here Comes the Fields of Flowers

Our first close up of tulip flower fields - just beautiful

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

So excited about today - we came to see the tulips blooming in Holland in the Spring, and that is what we will see. We started with our generous breakfast at 8:30 AM, and well fueled, we rode our van from the boat back to Leiden to pick up our stored bikes to begin our day of cycling.

Willum planned for us to bike 15 km from Leiden to the Keukenhof Gardens (it actually was 20 km), then to spend 3 hours in the gardens, and then to cycle another 10 km (actually 18) to Haarlem.

So we gathered our bikes from the giant bike parking garage, strapped on our helmets, attached our water bottles and off we went. My sister has asked an indelicate question - how does my bum feel after yesterday's 60 km ride? The bike I am using is perfect for me, and no problems with wrists, back or bum. Onward!

Passing rows of pollard willows, pruned and trimmed, but not yet any spring growth

These pollard willows, on the left of the canal, already have their spring willow-green branches

I read that the pollard willow is the "national tree" of Zuid-Holland. It's an important tree species for the landscape, biodiversity, embankment protection, and the use of wood. The pollard willow starts from a planting of a willow cutting. After several years, and once it's 6 feet in height, the trunk is then cut to size. The tree is pollarded every 2 to 3 years by removing new branches. The name of the tree comes from the swelling at the base of the the new branches at the top of the trunk, the pollard.

Beautiful Japanese cherry trees are out in full bloom

Spring green! The trees' leaves are popping out with each day of warmth and sunshine

A pretty little church near Lisse

A platform supporting a stork's nest.

We passed windmills, cows with baby calves, sheep and their lambs, and horses. Lots of great blue herons, coots, geese, swans, ducks and other waterfowl were swimming in the canals or eating in the fields. Some of the green spaces were perfumed with early lilacs and honeysuckle.

The white stork is setting on its nest - in Poland, bochan (storks) are considered very lucky.

And viola! Our first close up of tulip fields with rows and rows of blooming bulbs

The blooming tulip fields were as impressive as I'd imagined. Such vibrant color - reds, purples, orange, white, pink - and reflecting under a baby blue sunny sky. You are not allowed to go out and walk in them, although I would have dearly loved to do so for a few fun photos. Walking in the fields could damage the bulbs or introduce virus transfer from one field to another.

Once the tulips have bloomed, all the flowers are cut off at the same time and disposed of, allowing the bulb to mature and make small corms for future bulbs. The tulip fields are all about growing the bulb for export - more than 3 million bulbs are sold each season. By cutting the flower, but leaving the stem and leaves, the bulb grows and matures for market. Tulips that are sold as flowers are grown year round in nurseries and greenhouses.