Those days where we are free to mingle with plants and people..
This is a late post from our last visit in the Netherlands late last year.I am so looking forward already to Spring that I began searching my photos for our last Spring vacation and beautiful fragrant spring bulbs.I´ve bought some bulbs of Hyacinth, Daffodils and Amaryllis and they were all blooming now, their smell inside the house is so fragrant.Few more weeks and I know, Spring is here.
Anyway, yes, back to positive vibes and more Flower love! Last Spring I was really in the mood and wanted to visit a Botanical garden and at the same time to find a place where my daughter can play and not bored ogling plants! Orchideeen Hoeve in Luttelgeest is a perfect place that we´ve found!
When it comesto gardens, botanical ones or not, nothings comes close to the Netherlands .Plants and flowers here are totally of different level. I don´t know but plants grew there on a different level.The species are also so varied.
Beautiful flowers I spotted inside the Orchideen Hoeveee
There are many fascinating things inside the Orchidarium including these sculptured faces and animals out of tree branches and stems.
These crazy Orange Pink Flamingoes are carefree inside the Orchideen Hoeveee
It was freezing cold outside, barren, grey, ugly and most trees are still bare with its leaves long gone withered.But indoor gardens are a different thing. There is a place in the Dutch Lowlands , in Luttelgeest, that can transport you to a plant -paradise destination during winter season! In Orchideeen Hoeve, we had this amazing family experience that really worth the travel and money.
Have you heard about their Suspended Flower Garden?
It´s not yet Spring but I guess just like theirTulips charm, Holland always comes number one for me.I’ve written it many times, and will write once again– their Tulips and Keukenhof Gardens is the most beautiful Spring Garden in the World . It really is, but you need to see it for yourself to judge it. The Suspended Flower Garden in the Netherlands and its Orchid Farm is just extraordinary beautiful.The lay out of the whole farm is great, with lots of things to offer for all ages. No wonder it was really full of visitors during our time of visit.Here you can enjoy a day pass and enjoy all the Amenities.
All blooming plants suspended in the ceiling creates a magical plant paradise
Once we entered the garden, we were all open-mouthed, and drooling at all the hanging beautiful summer blooms. It is huge, vast and overflowing with different kinds of flowers you can imagine! I am sure my German neighbors will be drooling at all the beautiful cascading Geraniums, Fuchsias,Begonias, and Lizzies above our heads!It’s a different world inside in Orchideeen Hoeve.
A great family destination
Inspired by “Hanami Matsuri” or the Japanese Cherry Blossoms Festival in Japan, the Suspended Flora Garden and it’s greenhouse is as huge as two thousand square meters and seven meters in height. A magical place that creates coziness surrounded with natural living beauties in all colors, flowing oases of fountains, ponds and Gazebos. It looks so summery, and have a mediterranean feel all over the place.Every nook is so picturesque so I can´t really resists to take lots of photos!
There are plenty of areas to sit to enjoy and admire the garden. Whether you come as a couple, family or elderly, the place is huge enough! In case you got hungry, there is the “ Sakura Bistro” that serves snacks and drinks as well.The bathrooms are clean and plenty and there are lots of benches and nooks to rest and wait for your child while they play in the Play areas.Talking about playtime, the Mangrove Forest Play paradise one of the most comprehensive Nature play areas for children that I´ve ever seen.There´s also a Lorraine Garden, Jungle Theater and a Caterpillar Farm.Here I saw their very impressive Citrus Farm as well.
Take a seat and breathe in Nature
I decided to write about this because I really love the concept behind this garden. It is not just a place to admire and relax, but then it’s a place as well to appreciate nature. During Winter, we have limited places to go, especially something fresh as this. I am so glad that I had this experience before the Corona Outbreak happens! We would definitely check out this place once again in our next visit to Holland.
At further end of the Greenhouses, these is a wide place with parrots, birds and animals.Some cute animals that will surely attract your little ones are Meerkats, Ring tailed Lemurs, Ducks, Iguanas, Alpacas, jungle animals, some big fishes and Loris! It´s even like a petting zoo since you are allowed to touch them! I love the Flamingoes and colorful parrots .We enjoyed the butterfly garden and the turtles stretching their legs that looks like they are sunbathing on the banks of the river.In here I have seen as well thousands of swimming colorful Koi Carps in the grand river and waterfalls.
I bought a nice from here as a souvenir and until now, it still thrives!
Thinking of exploring the Dutch Lowlands? these Unique family destinations will surely not hurt your budget but will leave you exhausted, but happy. Have a great week everyone.Tschüss!
The ultimate Green Oasis , the Botanical Garden-Nymphenburg in München
A green oasis in the city. An outdoor urban jungle with vast variety of Flora & Fauna kingdom right in the heart of Bavaria.A place where the scare of the Corona virus seemed forgotten, keeping our minds at ease for a moment of rest… and where going back to nature is the truest form of self-respect. Standing in awe of the flowers and plants have kept our hearts happy and our senses revitalized.
After a long wait, finlly we visited the Botanical Gardens in Munich , just after we saw my daughter´s Exhibition in the Internationale Jugendbibliothek in Schloss Blutenburg.This Garden happens to be near to the Nymphenburg Palace so we decided to spend few hours here.Just like everywhere, Corona restrictions is observed. We need to wear masks upon entrance and sitting in Restaurant and of course maintain distance. But roaming around, we can go without.There were quite few visitors but not that we called many. It was a great day and I am totally in my happy place.
The garden is big, but not too huge.It stretches up to 21 heactares and houses approximately 14,000 species of plants .Unfortunately, we were not able to view the Greenhouses because of the current situation but then maybe its another reason to return to this nature paradise.
I feasted my eyes on the beautiful landscape. The garden is beautifully adorned with different plants.It has the late summer blooms that makes it so alive and refreshing. I felt that the air there is really clean and the only sound we hear is the water splashes and buzzing of the bees.I get busied taking phoos of bees feeding on lovely flowers. I am kinda magnetized on these sights so I took plenty of shots capturing this beautiful partnership in nature.
Here, its very evident that plants compete with one another. Every single plant exudes their vitality and charm, and bees were there to abserve them.I´ve read that bees ´s senses are adapted to the signals emitted by the plants and know their scent.They even know how to recognize colors!they love yellows and blue…Hmmmm.
But they cannot see red.So imagine, they onls see Red Poppies as a single black hole.I observed this more often in our garden where bees always flocked to my Lavender plants from the moment they start to bloom up to the last blooms in Summer.bees are indeed loyal to flowers!
Every single flower is unique.The patterns and colours are so rich!
I recognize quite a number of many summer blooms.But still, there are quite many that I am amazed to see.Great thing every single flower /plant is labelled. I took note of the great color combinations.The rows of Roses in full blooms are fragrant so far. My favourite was the light Purple one–I think it was pretty!
The Iris Garden is also something! Facing the grand pond with waterlilies and more Dahlias and Zinias, this place is quite captivating.Green and light blue shades of Iris are so soothing.There are many Parrot sculptures spread across the Garden.I really don´t know the meaning of its symbolic meaning but then it adds grace to the garden.
My daughter wants an ice cream so we tried the Restaurant.It was ok but I think it was a little overpriced and the service took so long.Maybe next time we will just bring our own snacks!
I have heard that this Botanical Garden attracts more than 35,000 visitors a year and now I can understand why. It may not be as grand as the Keukenhof Gardens and the Orchideeen Hoeve´ in the Netherlands but the 16,000 + plant species they are keeping are quite a collection to ponder about! I am sure that for any plant lover—a place like this is never to be missed! I am not surprised if it is the top visited Botanical garden in Bavaria!
Visiting green Oasis and Gardens has been our favourite thing to do during this Pandemie.We felt safer being surrounded by plants, maybe because they signify life. I am grateful that we have access to see gardens like these and costing only a few Euros.I would be writing for sure again about this garden when we return to see the Greenhouses once it opened again.
Watching nature´s metamorphosis is one simple pleasure in life that we should not take in for granted.
Do you love Botanical Gardens? When was the last time you visited one?
Whether you only need a moment of ME-Time, or you feel like taking some pictures of lush greenery for your Instagram and social media, or some ideas to post in your Blog,visiting your local Garden is quite an option! You don´t need to travel far and spent a fortune.
Personally, I´ve always wanted to learn more about plants and maybe be a part of a volunteer group for a Gardening or just to learn something or do something for the environment, then I would be happy…
If you love plants and green Oasis, here are some related Posts I have written as well. Tschüss , stay safe everyone!
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