2026/9 - Too cold/wet outside? Visit a greenhouse!

 Leiden is one of my favourite cities. Not only does it have in common that it was liberated from the Spaniards in 1574, with my own home town Brielle (we were first though: 1572). But it also has two of my favourite places to visit: the Museum voor Oudheidkunde and the Hortus Botanicus. But fìrst two photos I took today, at 6 a.m. and at 2 p.m.

The view from the ferry landing near my house. I think it is so utterly ugly that it has a beauty of its own.

My Narcisii are blooming, yay! Apart from them, all is still sodden and brown. But we are going in the right direction! Right, Leiden here we go.

This wooden casket is only one of many I saw this week.

The painted detail is simple but exquisite at the same time.

If the mummy of that woman found inside is anything near as gorgeous as this receptible, that woman must have been beautiful.

Now I do know that beautiful is not a correct word to describe mummies...but you know what I mean, right?

I'll give you some impressions of other exhibits, before reverting to plants.

Large, flat feet! But so sweet, this sculpture.

Okay, back to my not so secret pleasure! The winter garden of the Hortus Botanicus was the same as my winter garden, that is to say some bulbs and other very early plants, but mostly bare earth and withered stems.

Still, the anticipation of Spring was palpable!

The Helleborus were looking amazing already!

And this gorse bush ignored the cold drizzle. But we quickly took ourselves into the large hothouses, where there always are lots of blooms to enjoy.

Is there anything more beautiful than what nature produces? No, of course not! We try, and sometimes come near, but never completely.

Leiden is lovely, so put it on your list if you ever visit the Netherlands!

Okay. This is it for this week. I'll leave you with the good news that the 2nd part of my murder trilogy has been published. You can find it in the web shop of Trichisboeken.nl, under the name Zwaartekracht. It is in Dutch, but these days that is no problem, as the friends of my Taalcafé show me each week. They simply point their phone at the Dutch text and it gets translated into Chinese, Farsi, or whatever 😊

Trichisboeken

Renée Grashoff Schrijft

Have a great week, wherever you are!

Renée Grashoff 

2025/7 - 💥 Fame at last!💥 Boerenwormkruid and Gig.

 Totally off-topic, not a plant in sight (except on my photos), but it is my philosophy that if I'd like to Celebrate Life, I need to hang up the bunting myself! (That is a very useful practise by the way, at least you know there IS bunting).

In the webshop!

Update Boerenwormkruid

Another titillating titbit of news about the anticipated launch of my book: 

IT IS HERE!!!😊🇱🇺

You can order it through this link to the webshop  

https://www.trichisboeken.nl/product/boerenwormkruid

From today on you can also put your name forward to receive a regular Newsletter about my writing activities, by sending an e-mail to dutchdeltagardener@gmail.com leaving your name and e-mail address.

Yes, this blog is in English and the book is in Dutch, so this seems counter-productive, but I know my blog is read on a weekly basis by my fellow countrymen and Belgians both (in English, the clever clogs!). And they certainly are my 'target' (my apologies about that word, my Dutch and Flemmish friends, I totally appreciate you!)

Right, let me tell you about our gig last Sunday afternoon.

After a new bass player and drummer joined, and with an almost entirely new repertoire, Dusting Diamonds had practised for a year and a half before we thought to be ready. Our lead guitarist is a stickler for perfection you see, and rightly so, I see too many 'just for fun' bands perform (even charging money) that are not up to par. And I certainly do not want to make a fool of myself on a stage (unless I WANT to). 

Exactly

   

   So, there we were, Sunday afternoon, the music venue happily buzzing with those friends, family members and other folks that were not in bed with the flu. Trust me to organise a concert during an epidemic...

   Now do not think we sold out the Amsterdam Ziggo Dome; first of all it was a free concert and second muziekcafé MACH doesn't pack more than 80 or so. But enthusiastic people are wonderful! Especially when they sing, dance and sway along to your music.

   We all five brought in our darlings (and saw many fall along the way), so we play an eclectic mix of country-rock, blues, jazz and folk. 

   My personal preference is slow, steaming, swampy blues. I couldn't tell you why, as I have never visited the Mississippi area, and probably never will. But it resonates deep within me, if it were possible I would tell you it is in my blood. Hm. Probably from some past life (or utter bollocks). If you'd like an example of what I mean, please listen to the intro of Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks', until Robert Plant changes pitch. No? Not your thing? Then try Buffalo Nichols 'Lost & Lonesome'. Still No? All right, good old Muddy Waters then: 'Mannish Boy'. I heard this at age 13, listening secretly under the covers in my bed, and was utterly blown away by it. That song was the start of a life-long love affair with the blues.

Anyway, a fellow musician from another band made my day by declaring he'd experienced goosebumps (from emotion, not horror) when I sang Lovin' Whiskey by Rory Block. Wonderful! That is exactly the reaction I like.

Have a great end of the week and weekend, won't you?

Love, 

Renée 

2025 - 6 Frost and freezing winds do not a happy gardener make!

 Whilst I sit here trying to thaw out after an hour in my garden, I will make good use of my time and write a blog. For those of you that experience real frost ours is peanuts. But it is exactly our wishy-washy winters that make it so complicated.

Cortaderia selloana

  It should be either a proper winter, or none at all...not 4 nights of frost and sunny days and next 2 degrees C nights and 4 C days with an Eastern wind that feels more freezing than those proper frosts! This confuses my plants and cheeses me off.

  My spider plants in the greenhouse were confused as well and died. This experiment has taught me it is no use trying to keep them in there over winter.

Thankfully my spider plant has plenty of babies.

   Anyway. I was glad to see the rest of the garden was looking bedraggled but alive. My new stakes were upright despite the storms we've had, so that's good news.

And the spring bulbs are still alive as well, great.

My paperwhites even show buds. They are underneath the artichokes, so perhaps they are a bit protected. They are always the first to bloom.

So happy to see the bearded iris are alive, next to some more narcisii.

The hellebore next to the frog pond is almost in bloom too.

And the rozettes of the teasles are fresh and perky. I started out with one, and have at least ten by now. I value them, as they provide seeds for the birds and shelter for the insects. Besides, I like the historic value: they were used for combing wool, to get it ready for spinning. For someone who writes, those are useful details about our past.

My logs are there for the same reason as the teasels: shelter for the insects. This afternoon there was a robin perched on them, but as is so often the case, when I tried to take a photo all I captured was a blur, as it bolted.

The apple trees are pretty in their own way, with lichen. And canker... they are not very healthy and the apples are mostly mealy. But as I inherited them, I simply leave them be (except for pruning) and enjoy the spring blossom.

My frog pond is full of leaves, which I will not disturb yet, as I hope there is wildlife hibernating in that mud underneath them. So far the frogs have shunned it, but there are plenty of boatsmen and other swimming creepy crawlies in there. So strange, I have plenty of toads in the garden, but frogs, nope. I had one three years ago. Perhaps they are afraid I will try to kiss them?

Looking rather grey and boring... But just you wait!

Amaryllis

   In a few weeks time that grey, boring space will suddenly burst out in colour. And then my life will evolve around the garden again.

   In the meantime I have a gig next Sunday, wish us well.

   And my book will be for sale in approx. 2 weeks. Cannot wait!😁 (If you are interested in buying it, you can order it at Trichisboeken.nl, that's the webshop, or alternatively send me an e-mail at dutchdeltagardener@gmail.com )

   Have a lovely weekend, wherever you are.

   Renée