2026/17 - Blooming balcony garden

 After some chilly weeks, the weather turned mild, so I could cheer up my balcony garden with some less hardy annuals.

Every year there simply has to be Lobelia, as I love both the colour blue and the shape of the flowers, Lamiaceae. But I also got some Petunia and some yellow ....Hm, I will have to look up its name. There was no label. They look like yellow Daisies. Anyway, I buy them in a small plug and they grow into a satisfying pot-full within weeks, flowering their little hearts out until late October. As long as you water them, that is. They are thirsty plants.

There they are, in the large planter, in front of the Schneewitchen Rose that is getting its leaves, and together with the Lobelia in the hanging basket.

The other two (reddish) plants in the left planter are Gaura, another favourite of mine.

My Puck is always happy when the weather turns mild enough for the sliding doors to be open all day. She wanders in and out, slobbering water from the tiny pond, and keeping an eye out for other dogs and cats to bark at. She loves a good bark, but she never barks when indoors, which is a thing to be very thankful for. It makes me laugh, for I can see the dogs three floors down in the street look around them bewildered...where is that bark coming from?

The yellow upright plant on the bench is a Daphne, covered in sweet smelling flowers and very attractive to the early bumblebees. We have had three heavy storms lately, and I got up twice in the middle of the night to make certain it would not be blown to smithereens.

Meanwhile in Hunky Dory the first Calendula are enjoying the sun, when it is out. I have sown a new batch, as last years got all eaten by my mouse. These ones next to my mound have sown themselves out from last Summer's.

I told you I had planted quite a lot of various Tulips, right? These ones I have not had before, their stems are quite short, and the flowers very spikey. Hm. I like the colour, but am not sure if I really like that shape. Their name is Tulipa 'Dolls Minuet'. 

The frog pond to the left is unrecognizable by now, almost completely swamped by vegetation. It has a leak, and basically I have given up. Even the torrential rain we've had has not managed to fill it up, it is like carrying water to the sea! So I will leave it to do what it wants to do naturally. The frogs I hoped for have never come, and the salamander that does live there will hopefully migrate to the ditch. Obviously there is a hollow there, so moisture loving plants will like the occasional wet feet. Sometimes you will have to simply give over to nature.

I'll leave you with a view of the town's ramparts near my house. Old Brielle fortress is surrounded by ramparts in a star shape, this is part of the star's leg. It is a lovely place to take a walk, especially now with the yellow Rapeseed. The waterways are the domain of feisty moorhens, blasé blue herons and huge carp, and are covered with large patches of Waterlilies in summer.

Do take a look at my monthly blog about Brielle at Renée Grashoff Schrijft and have a lovely weekend, wherever you are!

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 

2026/4 - Memories of gardens past.

 Most of us gardeners never forget our previous garden(s). Which is logical; you have spent hours and hours of your life tending and shaping that garden, right? Sometimes you move on to an even better garden, sometimes you reluctantly can't.

Our first garden, 1969, hugely significant, for there I fell in love with green things. Especially with the meadows, where my mother kept goats, whom I adored. And the weeping willows, where a family of screetch owls lived.

She left the upkeep to others...who all accepted my interest with indulgence (and roped me in when nails and gardening tools had to be handed up, etc.) and gave me rides in the wheelbarrow.

This first home in the Dutch countryside, miles from a village, formed me. Eventhough I enjoy visits to cities, before long I need to get out.

My first garden

In 1987 I started my very first garden, on a balcony, so life has gone full circle by now. I again have a balcony garden now, as well as an allotment.

I was very proud of my garden, and quite disappointed when folks came round for drinks and did not even notice my pretty flowers.

The first proper garden

But then! In 1993 hubby and I moved to a corner house in a council row, so we had a front, side and back garden. Oh joy of joys! Hubby threw himself into the hard landscaping, and into keeping ornamental doves, and I spent every free minute shaping my dream garden.

Sorry for the blurry photo, this was pre-computer or mobile phones. But you get the gist of the lay-out.

I am still trying to duplicate the lush greenness of this garden on my allotment, but the soil is very different there, unfortunately.

For example, those Japanese Anemones,  the shining stars of my previous  garden, simply do not do well in my present garden. I keep trying though...as I really like them.

The side garden as seen from the fence. We had just planted a plum tree.

My daughter's rabbit Honing (honey) perched on his 'mount'. He had the run of the garden, and sat for hours on that pile of roofing panes, surveying his kingdom. The dog, cats and doves all respected him, as he was quite feisty.

The greenhouse was a great addition. Finally able to grow proper tomatoes and cucumbers was wonderful.

The last addition we made to that garden was a large pond...and I have no photos of that, unfortunately. Life took an unpredictable turn and I had to leave my old life and this garden behind.

I have no regrets about leaving that house, at all, but the garden...I still dream about that garden regularly.

Present day

I am nothing if not a pragmatist, so my present garden is very different. I try to go with the flow of my allotment garden, and some things work out better than others. The one thing that has not changed, is my love of emersing myself in my plants, both on my balcony and on my plot. I feel happiest when they tower over me...it must be the willows that imprinted on my early youth.

I already have made plans for both balcony and allotment for 2026, that is the sheer fun of gardening, isn't it?

So from Puck and me, a very green, happy weekend!

Do visit my website at Renée Grashoff Schrijft

Bye!

Renée Grashoff 

2025/54 - Oldies but Goodies!

 Merry Christmas! And if you are of another part/inclination, happy holidays, happy weekend, happy life!

And a special 'great to see you!' to my readers in Hong Kong, Mexico and Singapore!

May it bring you all you desire. May it bring us all peace!

Us delta-dwellers being in the midst of bleak, grey winter, there is not a lot to mention about my gardens. So I decided to give you some highlights (with my never before published photos) of the five years I have now been gardening at my allotment.

By the way, Puck & I raided the bushes on our walkies late last night, to make you all a quicky wreath.

Very close to the entrance to the allotments is a 'sloot' with willows. This is in spring 2021. I frequently meet a barn owl along this narrow road in the early morning, when it swoops over our heads, scaring Puck.

The bare bones of Hunky Dory in May 2022. I had spent the winter months clearing all leftover potatoes and weeds from it (missing a few), laying the paths with woodchip and digging the frog pond. As soon as I put that white gravel down, I hated it! And I was taken aback and dismayed by the utter lack of invertebrates in my soil.

By September I had assembled two planters, to give the garden some much needed height, and the struggling plants some proper soil to grow in.

By April 2023 the perennial beds had filled out considerably, and I started spotting earthworms, millipedes, beetles and toads amongst the slugs.

By July I counted 5 different kinds of butterfly where before, in 2021, there had been none.

Part of my harvest in August 2023. Whatever they say, it DOES taste better!

My drumstick onions in all their glory in July 2024. I think they are such fun! And they last for ages. Mind you, by now (the tail end of 2025) they are disappearing a bit, I should plant some fresh bulbs. The Verbena Bonariensis seeds itself all over the place, from the batch of seedlings I planted out in the first year.

By August 2024 the woodchip paths had been changed to grass, and the perennials had really taken off. I chucked all the woodchip into the borders in early 2023, hoping the invertebrates (and plants) would thank me for it.

The same bed in October 2024. Already heading towards winter, but still quite interesting.

The other side of the garden, looking towards the road and my compost heaps, is where the Artichokes dominate. In 2025, due to the drought of more than 7 months, the flower heads were very small compared to previous years. So far this perennial bed has been quite a struggle. Most plants I put there, do not like it, but some thrive. Grasses, mostly! And that silver Pine on the left has taken it as its mission to grow a metre a year. It was sold to me as 'a dwarf species' ! Ha!

Before the summer storm blew them down to the ground this year. Mind you, I tied them up against the obelisk again, but they took a beating.

I do grow a varied crop of tomatoes each year, liking to experiment with types I haven't grown before. These are yellow zebras, lovely for salads but useless to cook with.

2025 was a terrible year for butterflies... But my scabiosa always attracts the ones that do show themselves.

Early morning last April, sunrise over the misty (river) Brielse Maas. The best time of day to my mind. Nobody out, just the birds, Puck and me. And the very occasional beaver.

And thus we are full circle to spring.

Have a lovely weekend, try to take some time to watch the birds, feel the wind and smell the flowers (if you have any near you).

Visit me at my website Renée Grashoff Schrijft

And do visit me here, you are very welcome!

Renée Grashoff