2026/15 - First Harvest!

 Well, sort of...I have been eating my own Endive all Winter...But now it was possible to harvest the first Rhubarb (recipe below), and that is a festive moment every year, as for me it means the start of the months of plenty.

Plenty of veggies, plenty of fruit, absolutely fabulous!

Also plenty of watering, plenty of battles with slugs, and plenty of tiny disappointments, as there are always those as well.

Still, today I was chuffed. The sun was shining, the storm had only blown over one of my obelisks, but it was fine and hurray, my resident mouse had not been able to get at my fresh batch of sown seeds.

I looked at my shiny, fresh Broccoli and Paksoi, and wondered at the huge plant that Really Likes my veg bed.

It works! Ha!

The first seedlings coming up are the Physaelia, which I have sown especially for my bees. The Candula and Wild Carrot are not showing yet.

Do you see that monster? It is a Ganzenbloem, or Glebonis coronaria. And no, I did not invite it to my veg patch, it gate crashed. Me being me (read: unable to banish a perfectly healthy plant that is full of flower buds), it can stay.

The first of my tulips. It is Tulipa 'Pallada'.

The rest are all still in bud. We've had a very chilly couple of weeks. Which is normal for this time of year. The citizens donning their shorts just because the sun is out, are MAD.

You can see by my garden they are. It is very much an early Spring garden. And the air is definitely chilly! I am still in my thick winter coat.

I pruned half of my Buddleias, still have to do the other half, and it is time I trim my grass paths as well.

Nothing says 'allotment' better than stakes waiting for the climbers, right? There are roses against these. The Broad Beans there last year were a disaster, so I will stick to flowery climbers.

Oh, by the way, here is my recipe for Rhubarb compote:

- as much Rhubarb as you like

- wash, then cut into 1cm thick slices

- add some water (some!)

- add some sugar (it's up to you how much...I try to be careful with the stuff)

- add a small handful of dried fruit (to make up for the sugar)

- boil, then simmer until all the Rhubarb is soft

- add cinnamon if you like that

This time I used some raisins, cranberries and apricots. It will keep in the fridge for a couple of days, but in my house it never lasts that long!

Oh...you'll have noticed I am a very nonchalant cook! Meaning I assume you know the basics, and know something about measurements. Mind you, people that eat my food are always extremely happy to do so.

This, for instance, I prepared to share at our April 1st celebration, to commemorate the town's liberation from the Spanish oppressor in 1572.

Many Brielle residents dress in 1572 garb, and re-enact a battle between the Spaniards and the Gueux (Geuzen), ending with the public hanging of the Spanish commander, but mainly it is a great day to eat and drink and be merry with your neighbours. I think it is great!

This golden retriever sat in that window for hours! It watched the parade, but mostly it watched his human having snacks on the pavement below.

Two of my friends and me, eating my wraps. It is tradition to 'chalk' the windows in the night of March 31st, keeping out of reach of the police, as it is forbidden, but that's the fun of it. Traditionally the young would write funny local political statements, but lately it has turned to personal stuff. For example, on this window, which belongs to my friend who was a teacher, it reads 'learn your sums'. But I also saw so many dicks, visibly drawn by the same hand! I swear, there is some young man in our town who is extremely frustrated, poor guy.

This is it for this week. Have a good weekend!

You can access my website by this link Renée Grashoff Schrijft

Renée Grashoff 

2026/14 - Spring blossoms and early flowers.

 I know, I know, it happens every year...But to me it never gets old! When I walk my dog I enjoy the sight of all the trees and shrubs that have sprung into Spring with abandon.

The tiny white flowers of the Amelanchier, which we call krentenboom, are always the first. The cherries have the reputation for being wonderful, but I think this blossom is just as fine.

By the way, not a blossom tree at all, but look at this Willow. It has put on its spring finery as well. The wild mallards that use this 'sloot' like to fly up to the top of this particular tree, as it has a nice bowl-shaped top, which seems to be custom made for ducks. They made their nest there some years ago.

The Rapeseed under this bank of blossoms is just about to burst into flower as well. And when the Amelanchier has turned green, the Hawthornes which also live on this bank, burst into flower alongside the Cow Parsley. This is my favourite bank near my house, by far!

In Hunky Dory there is slowly some colour creeping in...I have two Broom bushes, the ordinary yellow one, which does very well, and a much more temperamental orange kind. Last year it hardly showed any colour, such a disappointment. But look at the buds on it now! It is very promising, and I will make sure to show you it in all its glory soon.

Next to the frog pond I have planted some Grape Hyacinths I had in pots indoors. They seem happy and are slowly spreading themselves out along the path.

The Wallflowers were some of the very first plants I planted in my garden 4 years ago. I planted 3 together next to my (tiny!) 'mound', and two have given up by now. But this one is still going strong. What I adore about this one is the variation in the colour, not one flower is the same.

Totally different from the one on my balcony, which is very uniform. It was sold to me as Erysimum yellow, well...It is very large, and has taken over the entire trellis planter; but the Clematis that is also in there takes no heed and simply climbs up from behind it.

Talking about the balcony, this Brunnera macr 'White Zebra' is showing her pretty leaves in between the Maroccan Mint. I thought I had lost it to the invasive Mint, but no, thankfully here it is.

And remember this plant? And me moaning about it, how I had lost all the seedlings of it three years in a row? It seems my Erigeron Profusion (Mexcian Fleabane) has taken a shine to this pot, for here it is, her third year in there and wow, covered in new flowers. Mind you, I made the soil in there extra gritty by mixing in sand, and then covered the base of the plant with 3" granite rocks that I stole from the boring ground cover next to my apartment. It seems to have done the trick.

The huge Grape Hyacinths never cease to amaze me. They are a bit later than their ordinary cousins, but when they do finally show colour, they look great, and they last for ages too.

I wouldn't mind this one in Hunky Dory, but my green gut tells me it will not appreciate the heavy clay and icy winds there. 

Despite near freezing temperatures and a storm, the plants I brazenly put much too early in the railing planters are doing fine. All my Pelargoniums have given up the ghost, so I had to get new plants. Oh well, I like a change from time to time. Now I simply hope my yellow Grape, which is against one of the trellis, has survived. The climbing rose Schneewitchen (the other trellis) is looking good, but the Grape looks...dead, frankly. I'll leave it for a bit though. After all it is early days yet.

Okay. Have a good weekend, take a look at my website Renée Grashoff Schrijft or subscribe to my newsletter by leaving me a message. 

Take care,

Renée Grashoff 

2026/13 - Blisters on my thumbs

 March is the month where my garden wakes up from her winter slumber, and so must I! That means clearing, lots of clearing, and pruning, so much pruning. And this time making a dead hedge using the apple tree branches. In fact, it all came down to my thumb getting blistered, eventhough I always wear gardening gloves.

Don't get fooled by that lovely blue sky...the wind was icy. I started by cleaning up that border at the sides of my greenhouse. In Summer there are Verbena Bonariensis, Fennel and Hollyhocks there; lovely, but by March they are dried out, sad looking stems. So I cut them back. 

In the other border I pruned the 5 Hydrangeas I have there. They always struggle through the hot months, but in Spring they look fresh and green. The Acanthus seedling a friend gifted me still looked alive, so that was hopegiving.

This photo is from before I pruned...you can spot one of the Hydrangeas at the back, right? There were spent Asters there as well, self-seeded from the mess of the untended plot next to mine at that side. In front of my many Narcissi the Lilies and Iris are showing themselves, and I noticed the Foxgloves from last year have produced many babies (no flowers yet this year though).

Isn't this perfection? I actually prefer the smaller or double varieties to the classic trumpet shaped kind.

On the other side of my path, my other neighbour had already dug over his patch. He is old fashioned; gardening is digging, and plants should be in neat regimented rows. Mind you, he is very knowledgeable and a very nice bloke. The only colour in all that dug over earth is this: Speenkruid, or Weaning Herb (??? Honestly, Google? I am sure there's a different name for this in English) Very cheerful.

On my side of the path, the Periwinkle is taking her moment as queen of the purple bed. I have some white ones there as well, but this purple one is dominant, until it gets swamped by the pink Geraniums that are also there.

In Summer this 'hot' bed is dominated by the huge Artichokes, but right now it is a mess of grasses. That varigated Carex behind Buddha was supposed to be one well-behaved clump. Instead it walks all over the place, swamping the other plants. I really need to tackle this. That is gardening for you...you always get surprises.

One thing I did tackle was the start of my dead hedge. I used the metal sticks I found in my shed (I told you my predecessor left me a shed full of gardening...well...stuff), as I believe in using the things I have instead of buying new things. That huge pile of branches I cut off my apple trees toppling off my compost heap is now reduced to a modest hedge.

A hedge which got nibbled in the first day it was there! I suspect hares, I know they visit the allotment. I think that is wonderful. They are very welcome to nibble. I like hares a lot.

Mind you, yesterday I surprised a mouse in my raised veg bed in the greenhouse. It stared at me in shock, and then raced away. Now that I am not so pleased about...I am starting my sowing this week, and my last batch of seeds were eaten by perhaps THIS mouse? It looked glossy and healthy...

I will have to think of a way to protect my seeded pots. (Traps, my neighbour would say. But no...not my choice of mice discouragement). There is an allotment cat...perhaps I should leave my sliding door open?

I still need to take out the dead stems from my purple/pink bed. I will start this afternoon. I already finished the two tin raised beds. This year I'll try some cheerful annuals in the left one, next to the rose, as that huge Fennel in there has given up the ghost after three glorious years.

Okay, this is it for this week.

Do visit my website if you are interested in me blogging about writing-related things at Renée Grashoff Schrijft and have a great weekend wherever you are!

Renée Grashoff 

2026/12 - Misty March Mornings

 Here in the Dutch Delta we are used to moisture: rain, and fog. Especially in March misty mornings are no exception. You know the ones I mean, where you get wet eventhough it does not rain. In fact you sometimes get wetter from mist than from rain...honestly.

My daffodils are in full splendour, mist or no mist. But the rest of nature always goes very quiet. There is no wind, and even the moorhens are less noisy than usual. I took a quick peek to see if they have started their nestbuilding yet, and yes, they were busy dragging reeds and small branches to their favoured spots. The graceful swans, who also use the Veste to build their nests, were ignoring them. They think the feisty moorhens beneath them.

When I took this photo, I noticed some yob had dumped his beer cans in my garden. I mean to remove them next time I visit Hunky Dory. Why do people feel they can do things like that? As an author I am forever and endlessly fascinated by human behaviour, but that doesn't mean I like my garden being treated so carelessly!

 My roses are sprouting fresh leaves, this one is the Schneewitchen, a pure white climber. I like it so much, I have bought one for my balcony as well. 

The Helleborus, being very pretty next to the frog pond. I had promised it some friends, but did not see any in the nursery yet.

The Euphorbia is showing her lime green flowers next to the Artichokes. I had meant to divide this clump, as it is getting rather large, but the soil being cement-like until mid-november,  I did not get round to it. I'll have to see if I can still do it now.

For the last couple of days I have had a nasty cold...not bad enough for me to take to my bed, but going to Hunky Dory in the freezing wind was a bridge too far. So you will have to make do with what is currently showing colour on my balcony.

These grape hyacinths are into their 6th year now. Very hardy little bulbs.

And these huge grape hyacinths keep coming up faithfully as well. They start as rather alien looking things, but they straighten out, and last for ages.

This plant takes everything this winter has thrown at her into her stride! It is great for cut flowers as well, if you don't mind the wonky stems. I mistakenly told you it is Alsem (or absinthe), but it is actually an Anthemis maritima. Whatever the name, it is lovely this early in the year.

In the green pot in the background is my lettuce. I buy this at the supermarket (no lettuce yet in my greenhouse, but working on it!), with a plug of soil attached. I then eat the lettuce and plant the plug, and eh presto, a new lettuce grows. Great value for money!

This morning at 06.15. Well yes, head cold or not, my Puck needs to be walked! I can't tell how glad I am about it getting light in the early mornings!!

Right. Have a great weekend, wherever you are, and do visit my website at Renée Grashoff Schrijft or subscribe to my newsletter by leaving me your e-mail address.

Renée Grashoff
 

2026/11 - Peaceful Pruning

 Suddenly the weather has turned into practically perfect. Lovely! Everyone has started spring cleaning, my neighbourhood echoed with the sound of drills and power saws. All those boys have come out to play with their toys. So I fled to Hunky Dory for some peace and quiet, and for the pruning of my tiny orchard.

I have been brutal! Perhaps a little too brutal...we'll see what happens. The apples are so-so anyway, I cannot ruin much about those trees I inherited from the previous allotmenteer.

But it was great to be able to take off my coat and sweater, and chop for an hour. The birds were chirping away, wonderful.

I put half of the branches on my dwindling woodpile next to the frog pond, and the other half on the compost heap. I know the latter is not ideal, it will take years for those branches to disappear. But I simply have nowhere else to put them. Although...I am contemplating making a dead hedge from them. I do have space underneath my rickety wooden fence. And I know small mammals and birds love those hedges to hide in. Actually, now that I telling you my thoughts, I have decided: a dead hedge is what I will construct!

You know what a dead hedge is, right? No? It is a 'hedge' constructed from cut off branches, by ramming some stakes into the ground (my soil necessitates ramming!). And then you layer the branches in between, so you get a hedge-like structure.

Meanwhile I saw that some of the insects had woken up. A yellow butterfly danced past; they are always the first ones to appear. We  call it citroenvlinder (Gonepteryx rhamni) and for me the sight of it means yes, finally, winter is on its last legs!

But I spotted a few Ladybirds as well, a very welcome sight. I do have to be careful of their larvae though...last summer I turned out to be allergic to their bite/venom. My hand swelled up until it resembled a baseball glove.

Happy, happy. My many daffs make me very happy.

As do these primulas. They are a bit nibbled, but never mind. They brighten up this patch of border until the large swathes of daffs kick in, and the early bees love them.

I planted the tall stemmed variety next to the frog pond, but they have disappeared...You know, if I received a Euro for every plant I put in this garden which has simply disappeared, I would have no money problems anymore!

This Teucrium I took from my balcony to Hunky Dory last October, thinking hey ho, I will see what happens. And wow, not only did it survive those weeks of frost, but it is now starting to flower along with the bulbs! Absolutely fabulous!

 Oh, I do adore a blue sky!  I will have to do something about my greenhouse though...last Summer all my plants scorched in there. So either I will have to paint the windows with chalk, or I will have to put up shading nets. The latter is probably much more expensive.

It being the third day running with temperatures of 16°C yesterday (March 6th), I could not stop myself from clearing the rest of the balcony and putting the railing planters back up. So you can bin the top half of this blog post; sorry.

My wallflower backs me up! "Why wait", it is shouting, "good times are here!"

Just to put me back on my feet, today started misty with 4°C... Oh well.

Every time I look at my cheerful planters, I feel my spirit lift. Puck is happy as well, she knows that the months where she can wander onto the balcony at will are finally here again. Drinking out of the tiny pond, bliss for her, hahaha.

If you'd like to visit my website, here is the link: Renée Grashoff Schrijft

Take care, wherever you are!

Renée Grashoff