It was one of those days when you would take lots of breaks during the course of the garden- work day. You would take a break to escape the unrelenting sun and stifling heat...a quantum of solace from the endless list of to-do garden jobs; which in that heat, caused one's pores to stand open like millions of tiny faucets leaking almost continuously what seemed like litres of saltwater. You perspired in the shade too, just not as heavily. It was hot and uncomfortable and with that backlog of tasks looming over my head, I felt a need to do something else. Hetty came down the path and rung the bell up at the front of the garden and called out, asking if anyone was home. I was too warm to move more than one corner of my mouth in what was meant to pass for a sort of lop-sided smile. My partner looked-up and told her to come on over to the "shady" sitting area. The area was small and so everyone had to expose at least an elbow to the sun. The Master Plan component of a little patio behind the garden house in the shade, was still not yet realised. I put on the water to boil for coffee and tea and pulled out an extra chair for her. I'll bet that it wasn't three minutes when Nettie arrived, pulled the bell cord and marched on in. Another seat was required--everyone had to give up a little bit more shade and expose a little bit more to the sun which pricked with its heat on anything that stuck out of the circle of shade. Well, we sat there and talked about this, that and the other, a second cuppa was wished for and provided and the girls turned to a light form of gossip. As time passed we got on the subject of show gardens, the BBC and what there wasn't in Nederland along that vein. But then my partner and I piped-up like a duet, saying that there was the Keukenhof in the spring, but also tucked-away down south a village called "Appeltern", and that there was a huge 22 hectare place with more than 200 little examples of "show gardens. They had not heard of this place, but we had been there a couple of times already. We took turns telling what we had seen there and what a delight it was. It is a place that shows garden designs for every taste and every pocketbook. Various business promote their products by showing them integrated into one ort more of these gardens. The name and addresses were not always apparent so as to not detract from the beauty of the garden. This, as well as plants were on display with their Latin names. We talked and talked, and the ladies asked questions... before you knew it we had decided to take a trip together. I would drive, and we would all split the cost of the petrol. When the date drew near, Nettie couldn't go, but Hetty was fully invested. The alarm went off early that morning because we had to shower, eat a bite, pack lunches and water...and be off to the train station. We had agreed to meet Hetty there so that she could park her bike in the protected place whilst we were gone for the day. We were at the station ahead of time and waited patiently, as the sun began to illuminate the sky more and more. There in the distance, I could see Hetty approaching on her bike out of the mist. When she emerged from the bike parking building, we were right there for her to hop in and the odyssey could begin. I had punched-in the address of the Gardens of Appeltern into the TomTom and so we were ready to go. We got an early start because the place is so far away that we wanted to arrive soon enough to have enough time to see it all. It does take a long time, because there is so much to see. The folks there have added more and more things over the years. We arrived and found the parking lot, parked and wandered off in the direction of the entrance gate. The parking lot is a little ways from the entrance, but the walk there is so interesting. There are sculptures and a whole variety of niches filled with plants, benches and; of course, more statues and art work. Art and design is a big part of the "Appeltern experience", not just lovely flowers and trees, shrubs and grass plants. As I was paying someone behind us was talking about a lower price for elderly visitors. I sometimes forget that Hetty is 70 because of how vital she is. I...well, we all were a bit miffed that the cashier had not asked or mentioned this "special price". Ach, but we can't let that set the tone for our day. We got the reduced price for Hetty and so we could begin. One thing that I noted up by the front gate was that there were two routes--one for regular ambulatory guests and one for wheel chairs. They ran more or less parallel but in most places one group could not see the other. They both went to the same locations, and sometimes each group had their own entrances and exits to the gardens. We began by strolling down a shady thickly overgrown path. I also noticed that there were plenty of terraces, café's and toilets for the guests. Someone had done a lot of considerate thinking in terms of the lay-out of that complex. When people are thoughtful of others, it makes a good impression on me. The meandering trajectory took us by all manner of cleverly laid-out gardens, sheds, walls, fountains, artsy statues and sculptures, paving and obelisks. Aside from the "hard" elements of garden construction, there were also plants of every description. I had brought a little note pad and a pen to take notes. The main thing that I was taking note of was which plants were the most heavily visited by honeybees...then I looked at colour and general beauty. It was late July-early August, so it was very hot, I always selected the shady paths and looked for gardens that had some shed or shelter that I could linger in from time to time and cool-off. This is one such place. Everyone was doing the same, but the beauty of the layout was that there were so many "cool places" that there was no back-up". There were even larger park lawn-like places where several people could sit on the grass in the shade and lounge. Kids could run, lovers could lie and whisper sweet things to each other and the other folks could just rest and sip water. Not only humans sought the shade, this trio looked positively delighted to be sitting on a shady pedestal. I reckon that the only ones crazy enough NOT to seek-out the shade were the amphibians. Water features were common in the Gardens. I think that all three of us liked different things, or should I say were most impressed by different things. My bride liked this collection of buxus balls: I liked this quaint little semi-cottage garden: Hetty (the "artistic" one of us three, liked this geometric type of garden. As a matter of fact, I think my partner was the first to see this garden and comment on it's cleanness. Here and there were surprises, like those three rabbits...this time it was a head poking up out of the ground. Another example of a un-complicated type of garden that looks sort of like a cross between a sharp geometry and ruins from centuries gone by. We made many stops for water, tea, to eat our packed lunches, make pit stops and to chat and comment on everything from the gardens, plants and the people that we were seeing to the grounds layout and art exhibitions and the number of sitting benches and other places for the guests. We were like a sort of three-headed garden critic that had opinions and analyses of everything. Oh dear. We even had opinions about each other's taste. It was comical to hear us, I think. One would say that the other was narrow-minded in their views and the other said that the other was too liberal in theirs, so liberal that they lost sight of the meaning of what they were seeing. I say, if the shoe fits, wear it! It was all joking and fun. At one point though, we came to the part of the gardens that was situated along a large canal. It is the place that is specifically for sculptures. There were many--large and small. Most were a bit "modern" and they were outside placed here and there along a couple of paths. Naturally, Hetty was very interested in this area. I will just show a couple of examples. I did not know what to take a picture of. Perhaps it is my lack of appreciation/understanding. The truth was that it was too darn hot and the sun at that moment was quite un-advantageous for taking pics. I wanted to get back to that building at the entrance to this section. The one with a porch where I could sit, elevated and cool with a little breeze. I could have another swig of water and open my shirt...and just sit and look out over the water, reeds and the steaming sculptures. A little further up, was this plot of Agastaches and Verbena bonariensis. I am sorry to say that this foto does not do justice to that plot at all. We were beginning to feel it in our legs...that slow walking--the museum pace, was taking its toll. The prettiest was yet to come though and on our way back towards we would come by the "borders" gardens. It was just a series of borders laid out, some straight, some curvy. The sight was really eye-opening for us. It was just plain beautiful. We had to cross a small bowed bridge to get to this section and this is the first thing that we saw: Another area: There were blooming flowers everywhere. I think that we were there just over the peak of beauty, but it was still quite impressive. It was difficult to capture on film because one is always at ground level and things are quite close together. A peek between the flowers on either side of a path. I just loved the displays of all the colour--summer and fall bloomers mixed together. Well, I reckon that you are as dog-tired of the day's visit as we were in the end. Your head is probably zinging from the length of this trip, but that day, it was my legs that zinged. I think that we were all completely worn-out from the perspiring and walking. We were worn out alright, but we still had to get back at the car. That long, shady walk along the art work. Well, there would be benches...annnnnd a small shop near the parking lot that sold specimens of plants that were featured in the gardens. One cannot come away without a purchase or two...or three....etc. I was no exception. I got two large Agastache 'Blue Fortune'. Mine were half price and had large pots, so carrying them the rest of the way was a challenge, getting them into the auto along with the rest of the other purchases was also a challenge...but you know how it is--when it comes to plants, there's always a way.
S, Thanks for taking us along on your little trip. I so enjoy all the things you think to post about and take the time to so. I love the sculptures, but the row of boots was pretty whimsical.
What a great day, I love to go to places like that in fact I would like to live in a garden like that!
Glad that you liked the posting, HANK. CAROLYN--Thanks for your comments. Most of the sculptures, garden types and so forth change from year to year, but those shoes have been there a long time. I have never counted the pairs, but it seems like more since the last time that I was there. I appreciate your comments, CHOCOLATE--I wish that their website was in english, I think that you would enjoy looking at it. The complex is quite enormous really.
What a beautiful location Sjoerd, I can imagine it is easy to get lost there! Thanks for your lovely photos.
Sjoerd,I so enjoyed the garden tour. I liked several but especially liked the yellow shed with the white arbor. I want to get some Blue Fortune Agastache for my garden.I saw it in a garden in the city. sNs
Hi Sjoerd, I enjoyed your story very much. I felt like I was there with you! What a beautiful place. Your description of the heat reminded me so much of this past summer for me... shade seeking, water guzzling a lot of summer days in 2012! Ah, a distant memory now.
I enjoyed your trip in my air conditioned room. It was beautiful but I didn't envy you the heat. wannabe
You are welcome, FRANK--It is quite lovely there and good for one's imagination. I can see how folks might take an idea from several show gardens and use them to alter their own garden. Thank you sNs--That little yellow garden house display I liked very much too. That Blue Fortune Agastache is a really good bee plant that blooms a long time. It is sterile, though, so to propagate, you'd need to take stem or root cuttings. You are so welcome, DONNA N NC. Thank you KAY-- I am glad that you liked the piece. Yes, it was a pretty hot summer, wasn't it. Glad it is a thing of the past there. Boy, WANNABE-- you are smart for taking the trip in your AC'ed room.--all the beauty and none of the heat. hahaha.
