This is my second season volunteering at the Historic Gardens (in Dutch: Historische Tuin) in Aalsmeer, Netherlands.
You can read about my last season Unique Experience in Volunteering.
Dahlia from last season -Historische Tuin, Aalsmeer
I started two weeks ago and I am always amazed from week to week how much the garden changes. The garden manager, Dick Maarsen, is in constant motion, with the more than 100 volunteers, working to keep the garden looking amazing throughout the year.
What can you see this time of the year at the Historic Garden?
There are roses blooming inside the greenhouse.
Lilacs and Rhododendrons in full bloom, and Spring annuals, like pansies and forget-me-nots. Thousands of bees busy going from plant to plant.
Historische Tuin greenhouse roses
This week everyone was busy planting, remodeling one of the older greenhouses, weeding (my normal task), and deadheading roses.
One of the workers moving Lilac bushes
The garden is also preparing for the upcoming Aalsmeer Flower Festival that will be held on the weekend of 16-17 June, 2018. A huge event with wonderful flower displays that I would encourage anyone in the area to attend. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Historische Tuin from now until the event and are only €7,50 and includes entrance and a boat ride through the Westeinder and the Ringvaart.
Aalsmeer Flower Fest 2018
All about the Flower Fest 2018
Enjoy the Spring and stop by the Historische Tuin if you are visiting Aalsmeer. You might even run into an American volunteering there, hiding in the garden, smiling as she is pulling weeds.
Bee hives at the garden
© The Cedar Journal, 2018, all rights reserved
The Cedar Journal 
Holland should be called the flower country of the world. The tulip season with its massive fields of colourful flowers is barely over and already flower festivals for other varieties are being organized. Now it is the time of the roses. I wonder what will be next. Thank you for posting these lovely photos!
LikeLike
Peter- The Dutch own the world flower trade! I heard at one time that more than 90% of all flowers/plants have touched Dutch hands. Funny- they all think of them as money in the pocket. I find as most people, money out of my pocket. At least now I am part of the system helping out.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wonderful photographs! I admit to being jealous. I wish I could pull weeds in this garden, too! Unfortunately, I am not in the vicinity or even on the right continent. Enjoy!!
LikeLike
I will pull extra weeds just for you.😊
LikeLike
This just tells me Netherland is all the more than tulip festivals. 🙂
LikeLike
Did you know I’m a floristry teacher? I teach at one of the agricultural colleges in the Nether land. Every year in the introduction week we vistit Aalsmeer’s auction and the historical garden with our first years students. We might meet….. That would be fun. The Netherlands is a small world.
LikeLike
Cool! You have a wonderful job. I think of FloraHolland as Santa’s workshop of the flower industry. I just love where I volunteer at the Historsche Tuin. I always feel like I won the lottery.😊
LikeLike
[…] can read about my past seasons volunteering at this wonderful […]
LikeLike