2025/42 - Open Tuinen Groei & Bloei - 3

 I promised, right? So here is my third visit to the Open Garden Scheme. This time* we went to Melissant and Nieuw-Helvoet. Both small villages; the first on the next island over: Goeree-Overflakkee.

The Uulestee is situated on the outskirts of the village, near the Grevelingenmeer. It is a farm, a real one, so the court where you park is muddy and there is a midden, with residing chickens. My eye was immediately caught by some very attractive goats.

I adore goats, grew up with Nanny goats. So with these ones, I really had to look hard, a breed I had never seen before. Anyway, lovely and friendly animals.

The garden, which was the purpose of this visit, is situated on the other side of the farm buildings. And jolly good, there is a tea garden.

 Finding the entrance to the garden was a bit tricky... it took three goes for me, but then I got it: cross the 'sloot' next to the sheep. And ah...that was not easy for a not very stable-on-the-feet  old woman like myself. So be warned, take a sturdy fellow traveller with you for support. Or a cane.

That sloot has high sides...But the view! More typically 'my side of the Dutch delta' you will not find.

The garden is well worth the effort of scrambling down the muddy side of the sloot, and up the other side. It is inspired by Piet Oudolf, with lots of tall, waving grasses, and I thought it wonderful.

Narrow shell paths lead you through an area planted with waving grasses and masses of tall perennials, most of them in the purple/blue/pink/red spectrum.

Caryopteris, beloved by all kinds of bees, and with a nice scent. I have this shrub in Hunky Dory, but it is still a baby.

* it being the middle of September when I visited, most of the flowers of the Echinops had gone over, but the Verbena bonariensis was still going strong. It made a lovely contrast with the already brown Thistles.

Nieuw-Helvoet

A totally different garden, in my old neck of the woods. I used to walk past this garden, so it was great to finally be able to satisfy my curiosity and have a peek inside. And joy of joys, a huge pond! Very clear water, with a bog area at the back. But the gardener told me that it is not problem-free: the pond has a leak, so he has to fill it up from time to time (hey, where have I heard that before? Oh, right, at home), and the bog garden is silting up and rambling plants colonise it. Still, I thought that pond beautiful.

The entire garden was very attractive. This is a very good example of the shrubbery/trees, this is a very green, leafy garden, with layering. And not an ornamental grass in sight! Except for the pond area, it is mostly shady, because of the high Poplars everywhere. The highest of the entire polder, the owner said proudly. It had one of the loveliest umbrella shaped Mulberry trees I have ever seen, which he prunes by climbing on top of it. That is what you may call a sturdy tree! I forgot to take a photograph, sorry.

I did take one of the tiny Cyclamen though, aren't they sweet?

Here you are, one more. You'd expect Ophelia to dreamily drift by, don't you?

Or the Frog Prince.

This was the last Open Garden garden for this year; I'll make sure to visit some gardens in 2026.

In the meantime I have made a start with building raised beds in my greenhouse. As soon as there is something worthwhile to see there, I'll show you. Hunky Dory is winding down now, and the storm we had this week does not really help. My Artichokes look a fright, but the grasses are looking absolutely fine. That Melissant garden has convinced me to plant some more!

Right. Have a great weekend, wherever you are. Do follow the blog when you like it, and look me up on my website Renée Grashoff Schrijft , won't you? There is a translator button. Oh, and I have news: part 2 of my trilogy about Noor and Agnieken will be in the shops by Spring 2026.

Bye!

Renée Grashoff 

2025 /43 - Autumn is in the air again

 The morning being lovely balmy and quiet, I took my secateurs and myself to Hunky Dory, to finish what I started yesterday - pruning the spent flowers, and the removal of all those pesky Solidago.

There's this 'thing' about Solidago: I like it for its cheerfulness, but only in the right spot. And that plant walks all over my garden, settles in all the wrong spots and makes itself at home. If I had got a Euro for every plant I pulled out over the last 4 years, I could afford a larger apartment. Or publish at least 10 more novels! So yes, I regret planting it.

Here is another wanderer. But in this case, it reminds me of J.R.R. Tolkien: "Not all that wander are lost." This Nasturtium can go walk-about to its hearts content! Every time I see it, it lifts my mood. It will go on until the first night frost, and then die overnight.

The allotments being deserted, I took a peek at the garden of my neighbour at the back of my plot, who has gardened there for more than 60 years. He is very much into veg, but we share many a conversation about my love of flowers, which he appreciates too, especially my Lilies. He planted these Courgettes, aren't they fun?

Me having managed to grow just one Cucumber this year, I was a bit sad to see his being abandoned a bit. I suspect he had that many that he can't eat them all.

I pruned my Elaeagnus ebbingei again. Now that I have done it twice, those bare branches are beginning to stand out, don't you think? Whilst I was doing it, my head was 'buzzed at' by many, many bees. They love the tiny cream flowers of this shrub, they do smell amazing, I must say. So far I have never been bitten, it is as if they recognise me as 'harmless'.

I do hope those hornets which are colonising my country from the south upwards pass by though! They sound quite tricksy.

The few showers we have had last week, have done this Artichoke a lot of good. Most rain has passed us by though...More is predicted for this afternoon, well...promises, promises.

Last year, my garden was a mass of these summer bulbs, Ixia. This extremely dry year, there are only a few, next to the frog pond.

But to my astonishment, the Cyrtomium falcatum not only survived that drought, it took it in its stride! Well, yay!

The Malus has so many apples, it is a miracle that the branches didn't break during that storm we had last week. Actually, I was near breaking point as well! Those 100 km/hr gusts around my balcony were driving me bonkers. I would not do well in hurricane country!

The trees on Brielle ramparts are turning now. It always makes me a bit melancholy. Winter in my part of the delta usually is a very wet, chilly, grey affair. I counter it by masses of bulbs.

The Asters, Michaelmas Daisies, are in full bloom now.

The pink ones are always a few weeks earlier than the white ones though.

The plan was that they would bloom together, hahaha. Best laid plans, eh?

Okay, I'll leave you with one of our national treasures, in autumn attire.

Do follow this blog when you like it, and if you are interested in my website, here is the link: Renée Grashoff Schrijft

The Dutch Delta is Willow country!

Bye bye,

Renée Grashoff