Yesterday, 28th of June, I turned 40! We took the day off and headed to Aalsmeer! An early start and 21C at 5 am!

You have to get to FloraHolland in Aalsmeer pretty early in the morning to catch all the action!

I've seen tv programs about this big flower auction in The Netherlands but nothing can capture what it's really like. Have to see it to believe it!
The Clock! That is something! Flowers roll in. Bids are made. Flowers roll out. Flowers are sorted and shipped to all parts of The Netherlands and the World! By 11 am it's finished. Then it starts all over again tomorrow! So as I'm working on this blog I know that over in Aalsmeer at FloraHolland flowers are being moved!

Lots of flowers today!

Then to the Historical Garden in Aalsmeer.
Including a greenhouse full of classic roses!
We wandered around Aalsmeer, had lunch,
and enjoyed an open boat ride oever the Westeinder Lake!

A great way to celebrate turning 40! No tools in the historical garden yesterday! 33C by mid afternoon. A Cheesy Tomato Fondue for supper before the thunder, lightening and rain came! Will be 15 degrees cooler today!

Chickens are in the garden!

Happy 62nd Birthday Buitenzorg!

First day of Summer! First Dahlia!
Hemerocallis Stella d'Oro

Clematis

So, We're off to a great start!

Yesterday I went to Trompenburg http://www.trompenburg.nl/ in Rotterdam. This year the Netherlands Hosta Society was holding its Summer Hosta Day there! With sunny spells and showers the members of the Hosta Society enjoyed the day!

The Leaf Show was a "Huge" success! Hosta Just So and El Nino were this year's winner's!

The Arie van Vliet Collectie - Hosta's van de Lage Landen,( these are Hosta's cultivated in the "Low Lands" The Netherlands and Belgium), that was first planted with 45 Hosta's at Trompenburg in 2009 has this year been extended with the addition of 62 Hosta's donated by Fransen Hosta's and Jan van den Top.

Then back to Baarn with all the Hosta leaves from the leaf show, a few Hosta's for Buitenzorg and an Echium pininana!

They do look great in a vase!

There's a house in Soest...
...that has a "green" roof.

A steep roof...

...covered in Sedum!

Possibilities at Buitenzorg are endless!

Right tool for the right job! These are Weeding.nl approved!
Remember these flowers?

When they're finished they point up!

A rainy day. A full day of rain!

Good for the grass and great for the plants!

The Zucchini/courgette grows at the allotment!

Scarlet Runner Beans are starting to flower!

Swiss Chard is almost ready!

And the dill !

Then this! What is this plant at Buitenzorg?

Monday evening and between the rain showers, I started on the big Hosta project! Do you know what happens when you drill holes in wine soaked oak barrels? Starts to smell a lot like Christmas with a cup of warm spiced wine by a campfire! Must be quite a strong aroma when they are actually cutting these wine barrels open!

A layer of plastic pots and anti weed plastic

Then clay "beads" all to help with drainage! Roots can handle cold but if its too wet and cold roots start to rot and that's when things go against the gardener! Good to think about Winter's ahead!

I first filled the containers with a layer of garden soil then topped it off with potting soil. If the smell has any indication of how "rich" this combination is, I should be seeing growing results! Then I planted up the barrels with Hosta's and lavender! The sun broke trough the clouds just as I was cleaning up!

Seen from the kitchen door early yesterday morning!
Peter's Birthday yesterday and his gift hangs on the wall!
His own photo of Santorini printed on linnen! Love Internet!

Then today with Saskia to Chestnut Tree Farm in Bunschoten!

A Farm with old...

...and new to inspire us all!

Rain, wind, a bit of hail and just when I was "battening down the hatches" the telephone rang! It was the company in Soest ! http://www.tonnelleriedenoude.nl/ ! Order's ready!

When the sky cleared, I was on my way with my bike trailer to go get the first one! This is a 1/4 of a barrel!

The wine's sugar crystals are still on the inside!

The 1/2 and 3/4 barrel came by car!

They're now in their places!

Next step - fill with Hosta's !