Newsletters

Newsletters, I love writing them. Sometimes there is not enough time to write one, but fortunately there is Pien who takes the honors with just as much pleasure. More and more people are reading the newsletter and it is therefore more and more common that I get reactions to what I write. Mostly compliments from dear readers, but also more technical questions or other advice. But the question that is asked most frequently: How is the goat doing, what's her name again, Harry? Hans?

Hassan, our goat's name is Hassan. And he's fine. There is nothing wrong with Hassan's appetite, that beast really eats everything. Pick a nice bunch of Dahlias, drop one and Hassan is nibbling on it. First the leaves, which are probably the tastiest, but then you can see that Hassan can also enjoy a flower of the Dahlia Big Brother. grrr.

Furthermore, it is rather quiet on the farmlands around us. Here is a picture of our road, the Belkmerweg with large pieces of land that are under water.

This is called inundation and it is done to drown out existing root weeds, remaining bulbs and nematodes. This is usually done in the time between harvesting the bulbs at the beginning of summer and planting the bulbs in the fall. Many bulb growers try to do this at least once every five years in order to get clean soil again. A mecca for the birds, there are thousands of them.

The newsletter should of course also be a bit about bulbs, so we're going to put a few in the spotlight. I don't have a special topic this time, I just list a few that I like. Simply the best garden bulbs that you won't regret planting.

Narcissus Breath of Spring

A breath of spring, Breath of Spring. How an ordinary yellow Daffodil can be so special. During flowering the trumpet darkens while her perianth becomes lighter, she will become more and more distinct. Personally, I think she is one of the most beautiful Daffodils at our nursery, always good and always beautiful.

Narcissus Compressus

Another 'always beautiful always good' Narcissus. Massive bulbs that produce countless brightly colored and nice-smelling flowers. Short, sturdy and strong so, as you can see in the photo, great for the pot. Compressus is really a Narcissus that I am surprised she not in higher demand in our web shop.

Narcissus Golden Delicious

Originally also from our own breeding program but now grown on a large scale by grower Ammerlaan (you might remember that man who forgot the name of his Tulip 'Password', right, that one). Another multi-flowered fragrant Narcissus that blooms freely.

Narcissus Jetfire

Planted here along the roadside between our house and the neighbor's house. They have been there for more than 20 years and every spring they know how to cheer up passers-by. She blooms early, late March early April, ahead of all other Daffodils. The big advantage of an early flowering Daffodil is that the temperatures are still low, which means that they bloom much longer.

Narcissus Texel Sun

A no-nonsense Daffodil. Big, tough and strong. For large gardens; plant Texel Sun, with her sunny character she gives color and joy to life.

I just scrolled up and see that I have only selected Daffodils. How could that be? Then the Tulips next week I guess. What also strikes me is that quite a few Daffodils are already sold out. That pleases me, they are popular. But if you also want to plant Daffodils this fall, don't wait too long, the tastiest cookies are the first to disappear from the pot.

Best regards,

Carlos van der Veek

PS Did you know that birds have a lot to tell to each other?

This is the field opposite our house, as you can see a lot of birds. Under the bedroom window, what a chatter. All night long there comes a continuous chatter, babble, twaddle, prattle, cackle and jabber from their beaks. Must be the females.