GCO Spotlight:
The Keukenhof Garden
The Keukenhof Garden is one of the most beautiful spring gardens in the world. It is open for 8 weeks each year from mid March to mid May. Each year 7 million bulbs are planted to keep the gardens blooming brightly for the entire 8 weeks. It is located in Lisse, Netherlands 25 miles south east of Amsterdam.
Unfortunately the Keukenhof Gardens are not open this year due to the pandemic, but I was fortunate to be able to visit it in 2016. All of the gardens and many exhibits were amazing. Everything was picture perfect.
The gardens spread over 32 hectares and date back to the 15th century when it was a hunting ground and kitchen garden for the Teylingen Castle. Keukenhof translates to “kitchen garden” thus the name Keukenhof.
Landscape architects Jan David Zocher and his son Louis Paul Zocher, redesigned the castle gardens in 1857.
In 1949 a group of 20 leading flower bulb growers and exporters came up with the plan to use the estate to exhibit spring-flowering bulbs. The resulting park opened its gates to the public in 1950 and was an instant success, with over 200,000 visitors in the first year alone.
This year the theme is “A World of Colors”. To see photos and videos of this year’s gardens and exhibits and learn more about this amazing treasure go to the Keukenhof’s website. https://keukenhof.nl/en/
To learn more about the history of tulips in The Netherlands read Tulpomania by Mike Dash. It tells of a time when some tulip bulbs were more valuable than some homes.
Thank you Carol Burton!
Unfortunately the Keukenhof Gardens are not open this year due to the pandemic, but I was fortunate to be able to visit it in 2016. All of the gardens and many exhibits were amazing. Everything was picture perfect.
The gardens spread over 32 hectares and date back to the 15th century when it was a hunting ground and kitchen garden for the Teylingen Castle. Keukenhof translates to “kitchen garden” thus the name Keukenhof.
Landscape architects Jan David Zocher and his son Louis Paul Zocher, redesigned the castle gardens in 1857.
In 1949 a group of 20 leading flower bulb growers and exporters came up with the plan to use the estate to exhibit spring-flowering bulbs. The resulting park opened its gates to the public in 1950 and was an instant success, with over 200,000 visitors in the first year alone.
This year the theme is “A World of Colors”. To see photos and videos of this year’s gardens and exhibits and learn more about this amazing treasure go to the Keukenhof’s website. https://keukenhof.nl/en/
To learn more about the history of tulips in The Netherlands read Tulpomania by Mike Dash. It tells of a time when some tulip bulbs were more valuable than some homes.
Thank you Carol Burton!
Walking around the Gardens and children's activities.
Exhibition Halls, exhibiting grower's bulbs and artistic creations with cut flowers.
Staking the beautiful hyacinths to keep them upright.
Villa Barbarigo Valsanzibio
After losing his wife to the Black Plague (1630-31), Venetian noble Zuane Francisco Barbarigo moved his family from Venice to Valsanzibio to avoid the plague. He promised God that if his family was spared from the plague he would build a memorial to thank God. The fulfillment of that promise was The Monumental Garden of Valsanzibio.
His son Greorio, Bishop of Padua, inspired the design and symbolic meaning of the plan. Plans were drawn up by Luigi Bernini and the Garden was constructed between 1665 and 1696.
The garden is a spiritual journey through nature and art. The journey includes Diana’s ‘Doorway, the beginning of your journey to peace, thru the labyrinth, continue to many places to meditate, explore Rabbit Island and follow the Path of Salvation to the Staircase of Sonnets .
The goal of current and past owners is to protect and preserve the artistic and botanical heritage. The garden is located south east of Padua (Padova), Italy. To learn more about this amazing garden visit the website below.
https://www.valsanzibiogiardino.com/
Thank you to Carol Burton for sharing!
His son Greorio, Bishop of Padua, inspired the design and symbolic meaning of the plan. Plans were drawn up by Luigi Bernini and the Garden was constructed between 1665 and 1696.
The garden is a spiritual journey through nature and art. The journey includes Diana’s ‘Doorway, the beginning of your journey to peace, thru the labyrinth, continue to many places to meditate, explore Rabbit Island and follow the Path of Salvation to the Staircase of Sonnets .
The goal of current and past owners is to protect and preserve the artistic and botanical heritage. The garden is located south east of Padua (Padova), Italy. To learn more about this amazing garden visit the website below.
https://www.valsanzibiogiardino.com/
Thank you to Carol Burton for sharing!
Diana's Pavilion or Diana's Doorway was the main entrance by water to the Barbarigo Estate. It represented the beginning of the pathway to salvation. Originally boats could sail up to this entrance.
Diana's Bath fountains, statues and ponds
Five meter high hedges line the walkways through the garden.
Boxwood labyrinth with some plants over 400 years old.
A quiet place to meditate.
Rabbit Island, surrounded by water, is a physical representation of how the human body is limited by the confines of time and space.
Statue of time with a dodecahedron on his back representing the 12 months of the year. "Fly with time the hours and escape the years" (quote at the bottom of the statue).
Fountain of Tricks or Water Jokes. Just when you thought you had arrived, there is more to the journey. If you sit on the bench the fountain comes on and you get wet.
Mahonia aquifolium or Oregon Grape on the left, 400 year old cedars on the center and a California Cedar planted in 1665 on the right.
Staircase of sonnets "In Venice there is hell and here instead there is Paradise" (quote on the bottom stair).
Villa Barbarigo.
