Tulip Time

It's Spring, the flowers are out, the tulips are blooming...  but nowhere are the tulips blooming like in the Netherlands.  We were lucky to do a river cruise through the Netherlands in late March, just as the famous flowers from that country were starting to do their thing.

Probably the most famous place to enjoy tulips the the Netherlands is the Keukenhof, an area with acres upon acres of tulip fields, huge grounds landscaped with hundreds of plots filled with flowers of many kinds, and a half dozen pavilions each with unique displays of flowers.  The place has quite the history going back to Dutch royalty, and is a primary stop for the tulip trade (the plots on the grounds are tended by individual growers, who have tulip buyers on speed dial...).  Let's get started with pics...

Some interesting sculptures add to the flavor of the grounds...

And more from inside the pavilions...

 And some closer shots...

Guests could vote for their favorite at this exhibit, with pretty maids all in a row...

An obligatory windmill sits on the grounds, allowing views of the tulip acreage and the visitor grounds...

The Keukenhof is only open for about 6 weeks in the Spring, yet millions of folks check it out every year.  A very busy place!  Interestingly, once the tulips bloom, particularly in the fields, they are cut down and destroyed, no one wants the flowers!  It's the bulbs!  The bulbs are a major export from the country.  Knowing the Dutch, they must recycle the cut flowers somehow...  I have many more pictures from the Keukenhof...  orchids, hippies, bizarre babes!  Stay tuned...