Garden Photo of the Day

GPOD on the Road: Keukenhof

Tulips, tulips, and more tulips

mass plantings of blue grape hyacinths with yellow daffodils and orange tulips

Keukenhof is an iconic park in Lisse, the Netherlands. It sits in the heart of the bulb-growing region and is an over-the-top showcase of the region’s most famous export. These are photos from a trip I, Joseph, took to this incredible park back in 2008.

large fields of spring-blooming bulbs growingThese are the sights you’ll pass on the way to Keukenhof in the spring: fields of bulbs in full bloom. The bulb growers let each field bloom so they can be sure that everything is true to name, and then they cut off the flowers so that the plants can focus their energy to grow bigger bulbs. If you have flower bulbs in your garden, chances are they started their life in fields like these in the Netherlands.

mass plantings of pink and orange tulipsIn the gardens, bulbs are planted on an incredible scale and produce big sheets of color, as demonstrated by these beautiful tulips (Tulipa hybrids, Zones 3–8).

mass plantings of blue grape hyacinths with yellow daffodils and orange tulipsThis is perhaps the most iconic view in the garden, a river of blue grape hyacinths (Muscari armeniacum, Zones 3–9) with contrasting masses of yellow daffodils (Narcissus hybrids, Zones 3–8) and orange tulips.

close up of mass planting of light yellow daffodils A sea of pale cream daffodils is surrounded by a woodland just beginning to leaf out. All the bulbs are dug up and replanted each year to ensure a perfect display.

wide view of pond with fountain and flowers in bloom aroundKeukenhof isn’t just big beds of bulbs. Ponds, fountains, and beautiful trees are the backdrop for the sheets of flowering color.

rows of spring blooms with lots of park visitors walking pastCountless visitors come to the gardens each year, taking in the long ribbons of color from the bulbs.

bright red tulips planted with white daisy-like flowersThis is a combination I’d like to recreate in my own garden: bright red gregii tulips combined with white wind flowers (Anemone blanda, Zones 5–8). Though the sheer scale of Keukenhof is beyond any home gardener’s means and space, many of the individual beds are full of ideas you could easily re-create at home.

yellow and pink striped tulips behind white hyacinthsA smooth arc of tulips and fragrant white hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis, Zones 4–8)

warm salmon tulips planted with grape hyacinthsAnother inspiring combination: islands of warm salmon tulips in a sea of grape hyacinths

multicolored tulips with ruffled petalsOne of the fun things about the garden is getting to see more unusual varieties on display, like this orange parrot tulip with bizarre petals.

yellow and pink double tulips with fringed petalsOr how about this tulip with double fringed petals? It looks more like a carnation than a tulip at first glance.

 

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  1. User avater
    virtual_flower_garden 01/13/2023

    Beautiful! I was very hopeful in 2021 that I would get to Keukenhof, but alas, international travel was still difficult. Maybe soon!

  2. User avater
    simplesue 01/13/2023

    I've seen Amsterdams' Vondelpark, but didn't know about Keukenhof, wow, you were there at the right season for blooms to get all these great photos! They sure have some very well gardened parks over there. Thanks for sharing.

  3. btucker9675 01/13/2023

    Never ceases to amaze!!!

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