Hortus Bulborum and the Limmer Flower days

Visit Hortus Bulborum during the Limmer Flower days!

The end of April / the beginning of May is well known for all kind of flower activities in the Netherlands. Upcoming weekend it is the celebration of the Limmer Flower days with the Hortus Bulborum, the living museum with beautiful historical bulbs (even from before 1600!) as center point.

On Saturday 30 April and Sunday, May 1st the town of Limmen (close to the famous cheese city Alkmaar) celebrates the flower days with well-marked trail along beautiful flower mosaics.

Hortus Bulborum

The Hortus Bulborum take place in these days with about 4500 different types of historical spring bulbs. Just like the rest of the Netherlands the cold weather of the last few weeks give the advantage that the garden looks gorgeous at the moment!

The Fritillaria, sometimes know as the upside down tulip plant, are beautiful in bloom. They have over 50 species in bloom now. The Fritillaria Imperial Crowns is the best known, not only beautiful by its spectacular flower but also very useful against moles and voles. And in the early morning the secrete honeydew.

Fritillaria

The beauty of the Hortus is that you can see how varied Fritillaria its shape, from the short-stemmed flowers, with the structure of lily of the valley, the torch-like species such as Fritillaria persica. The latter blending in beautifully with borders full with tulips. The white and purple Fritillaria meleagris (Kievitsbloem in Dutch) belong to the same family.

The Hortus has over 2,500 different historical variants of tulips. The early tulips and the double early tulips already in full bloom. These double tulips were once the main export bulb of the town of Limmen.

In the barn were you can enjoy a lovely cup of coffee with cake you can order the same bulbs as in the garden. Once they are taken out of the ground this summer they will be packed and delivered to your garden at home.

Flower days

During the flower days the adjoining bulb museum with the name “de oude school” (The Old School) and the adjacent church are open for visitors. The history of the church dates back to 740 AD. The tower still bears obvious Romanesque traces. The church itself has a special interior that you need to see!

This Sunday (May 1^st) is a special day when in the front garden of the Hortus an art fair is held. From Noon there will be live music and catering is provided. Large tents are placed so everyone can stay dry in case of rainy weather.

I will visit the Hortus and the flower days on Sunday, come over to say hi. And if you are the only flower lover in your party know that on Sunday (around Noon) there will be a parade of vintage cars, historic military vehicles and historic vehicles in the town of Limmen.

You can find the Hortus at the Zuidkerkenlaan 23A in Limmen. Entrance 2,50 (free for children up to 12 years) For more information: www.hortus-bulborum.nl.

And more about the flower days see: www.bloemendagenlimmen.nl.

Source: Hortus Bulborum
Photo credits: Hortus Bulborum