Holland’s spectacular garden show
May 9, 2002 | 12:00am
Blooming May is here, palanggas, that month for which moi has a soft spot in my heart.
Flowers can enliven one’s spirit in many ways. Whether flowers are in a vase, in an elaborate arrangement, or in a vast field, they delight us and make us smile.
A country that celebrates the beauty of flowers at their best is Holland.
But before you dash off to Amsterdam, you should take a break for a day or two in one of moi fave cities of lights and romance–Paris! This is a must, dahlings, even if you’re in a rush to get to the Netherlands.
With flowers and Holland in our minds and air tickets in hand, off we flew aboard the tres chic-ky Air France, naturellement, which has direct flights four times weekly to Paris. With their excellent service on board, superb meals and wine list, plus all the amenities, the hours up there seem to pass so much faster than one expects.
A quick connecting flight with one of the several Air France flights to Amsterdam brought us an hour later to the ultra modern, superbly organized Schiphol International Airport.
Amsterdam is definitely one of the most popular short break destinations in Europe. It attracts–hold your breath–over two million overseas visitors annually. It is known for its laid-back lifestyle and its palpitating night life. It is also known for its network of canals, earning the nickname "Venice of the North."
Since it is relatively small and self-contained, the city is best seen from the water, where you will pass through many historical sights. It’s great exploring Amsterdam at one’s leisure.
You’ll find in Amsterdam world-famous attractions like the Rijksmuseum where you can be hypnotized by Rembrant’s masterpiece, Night Water. Later, we walked over to the Van Gogh Museum, where we marvelled at Van Gogh’s dazzling colors. Then we headed off to the galleries; the Royal Palace at the crowded part of the city on DAM Square; the Red Light District, famous for the girls who just sit tres demurely behind ground floor windows, hoping to attract customers. Walking pass these windows has become a regular pastime for visitors and locals alike.
Other discoveries: a friendly coffee house; a renowned park; a favorite shopping venue like The Magna Plaza shopping center; and cheese shops where the choices are almost endless.
But that does not end there, palanggas. Just a short drive from Amsterdam, you will find the unbelievable, world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens known as the world’s largest flower garden. It is visited by tourists from all over the world from March to the end of July.
The gardens span over 70 acres in which some six million bulbs are planted every year. Each garden has a specific design and character. By climbing the steps of the Groningen-type cornhill, you’ll have a view of tons and tons of flowers in such dazzling colors.
But if you tire of walking outdoors, don’t fret, palanggas. There is a huge indoor spring garden in a 7,000-square meter pavilion during the annual spring exhibition from April and May. Here you can drool over 500 different flower varieties which can viewed in 10 indoor flower shows under the name, "Parade."
Flowers, flowers and more gorgeous flowers! There was so much of them that our ace photographer Alex Van Hagen had a field day clicking his camera away.
Since flowers are a year-round industry in Holland, when you fly into Schiphol Airport (especially at this time of the year), you can behold huge picture-perfect fields with different varieties of flowers from the window of your Air France jet.
Millions of visitors spend a whole day breezing through the colossal gardens watching a fantastic display of over six million flowers including 1,000 varieties of gorgeous tulips alone.
Art plays a prominent role in Keukenhof, creating a beautiful harmony between nature and culture. Here, you will find a permanent exhibit of sculptures around the park done by renowned Dutch artists. There are also painting and photo exhibits shown in different pavilions.
The Nature Garden features a magnificent combination of perennials, bulb plants and tuberous plants above which are blooming shrubs and Oaks trees in their natural setting.
The Music Garden is a bit isolated from the busier routes of the garden. You can enjoy soothing music from hidden piped-in speakers while walking through the woodcock path and the marsh.
From 1401 to 1436, the Keukenhof estate belonged to Countess Jacoba Van Beieren. The estate was her home; it had her hunting grounds and the garden from which her household help would gather herbs for her castle’s kitchen.
The name Keukenhof is derived from the Countess’ passion for herbs. Translated, it means, "Kitchen Courtyard." Seven million flower bulbs cover this spectacularly designed park. Countess Jacoba would be pleased to know that the "new court suppliers" have transformed her "Kitchen Courtyard" into Europe’s largest garden.
We just had to have a nostalgic experience at the Historical Garden where walls enclose a formal garden which has a selection of bulb plants and perennials, both old and ancient. This interesting garden even contains a special section planted with Countess Jacoba’s cooking herbs.
This year’s newest attraction, the Japanese Garden, is right next to a Dutch landmark, the windmill. You will be amazed at how they have transformed an old-style garden into a modern tribute to nature. Everything in this garden was planted in collaboration with Hanakairo Park in Tohore, Japan. The garden pays tribute to 400 years of Japanese-Dutch relations.
All that walking will surely work up on appetite. That does not mean, though, that you have to take a break from flowers for a meal break. This one-of-a-kind park has several self-service restos, outdoor buffets and even Holland’s famous pancake restos called Poffertjes.
Moi could go on and on about this flower paradise. While moi lived in Holland for some years, moi would always make it a point to visit Keukenhof yearly during March to the end of July. Even to this day, the wonders of this garden never cease to amaze me.
Moi am not alone about how I feel about flowers. Ask any of my friends and or even strangers who have visited Keukenhof and they will echo exactly how I feel.
Before jetting out of Holland, we learned about that colossal happening that takes place only once every 10 years, The Floriade 2002, the world’s greatest horticultural exhibition. It opened last April 6 and will run until October 20, dahlings. Held in the district of Haariemmemeer, close to Schiphol Airport, it is expected to attract a whooping three million visitors.
Floriade 2002 showcases everything and anything about Dutch horticulture. Visitors can take a romantic trip here through international entries from Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Russia, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Colombia, the US, Canada, India, China, Pakistan, Japan, our very own Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, countries which have confirmed their participation.
Exhibitors will create over 300 truly exceptional displays and fabi presentations in the 65-hectare park, among them a fantastic valley of flowers with over a million bulbs. Now, dahlings, that is what I call really wow!
The ultimate landmark at Floriade 2002 is the sculpture on top of Big Spotters’ Hill. The view from this spot is phenomenal; at the foot of the 40-meter high sand pyramid lie 10 islands that house presentations on the theme of sustainability.
You can go on a time trip through the magical world of water, or take a look at the very heart of the earth. The bright yellow of the Roof, the largest solar array of its kind in the world, can be seen from miles around. On the park’s south side is a wooded area with a lake at the center. Twenty international gardens nestle at the water’s edge. Amazingly diverse, they range from an authentic Thai pavilion and a traditional Japanese garden to a modern French presentation.
Floriade 2002 is a paradise for gardeners and flower lovers. You have till October to check this awesome wonderland of plants and flowers, palanggas.
For more info and reservations, do call tres chic Air France’s Sales Technical Support officer, Maria Teresa "Tess" Zulueta at tel. no. 887-7587 or 887-7581. They will get you there the French way–in high style.
Yes, dahlings, there is no better place to relax than among the tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowers. This will surely be one trip that will blow your mind away over such gorgeous flower power.
Berlitz, the world’s leading language service provider, dahlings, finally opened its Cosmo Manille branch a new moon ago at the Peninsula Court Bldg. along Paseo de Roxas cor. Makati Ave. No less than la simpatica President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo received the first lesson in Mandarin.
Joining her were US Embassy Charge d’ Affairs Robert Fitts; Trade and Industry Secretary Mar Roxas; Berlitz Asia franchise manager Tom Godfrey; Berlitz Philippines chairman Renato Constantino Jr.; and Berlitz Philippines heavyweights Wilson Go, president; Alfred Tong, VP; Norbert Chingcuanco, VP; and Rita Kaw, treasurer.
The center is known worldwide for its non-traditional way of teaching foreign languages, popularly known as the Berlitz Method. Established 120 years ago, it boasts of top quality instruction. There are 350 Berlitz centers in 50 countries worldwide. Clients have included Meryl Streep; Francois Mitterand; Katherine Hepburn; Lee Lacocca; presidents John Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and Woodrow Wilson; Sinclair Lewis; Laura Esquivel; Enrico Caruso; Peter O’ Toole; Tom Brokaw; Celine Dion; Dayanara Torres; Antonio Banderas; Marlon Brando; King Alfonso XII of Spain; John Lennon; plus other hot names like them.
The invitees included hotshots UP president Dr. Francisco Nemenzo; PSE president Ernest Leung; Margarito Teves of Landbank; Rep. Jesli Lapus; civic leader Teresita Ang-See; super broadcast journalist Mel Tiangco; Wireless Services Asia co-founder and CEO Rainer Leinonen and VP for marketing Ardie Balderrama; Manuel Vicente Jayme; Manila Shimbun president Hirochika Noguchi; Thames International School director Joel Santos; Equitable-PCI Bank president Antonio Go; Tim Lavin of Ambergris Solutions; Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce secretary general Joaquin Sy; Medicomm’s GM Pol Moral; and Home Guarantee Corp. EVP Arthur Tan.
Naturellement, Renato C.’s famille came in full smiling force: his wife Lourdes; mother Letizia; eye-catching daughters, ANC newscaster Karmina and Ninel; and son-in-law Mark Garcia, husband of Marika Constantino-Garcia, director and GM of the Berlitz Language Center.
It’s truly a great time to jet off to Holland, palanggas, for all you flower and garden enthusiasts.
Have a safe weekend and be happy. See you.
Flowers can enliven one’s spirit in many ways. Whether flowers are in a vase, in an elaborate arrangement, or in a vast field, they delight us and make us smile.
A country that celebrates the beauty of flowers at their best is Holland.
But before you dash off to Amsterdam, you should take a break for a day or two in one of moi fave cities of lights and romance–Paris! This is a must, dahlings, even if you’re in a rush to get to the Netherlands.
With flowers and Holland in our minds and air tickets in hand, off we flew aboard the tres chic-ky Air France, naturellement, which has direct flights four times weekly to Paris. With their excellent service on board, superb meals and wine list, plus all the amenities, the hours up there seem to pass so much faster than one expects.
A quick connecting flight with one of the several Air France flights to Amsterdam brought us an hour later to the ultra modern, superbly organized Schiphol International Airport.
Amsterdam is definitely one of the most popular short break destinations in Europe. It attracts–hold your breath–over two million overseas visitors annually. It is known for its laid-back lifestyle and its palpitating night life. It is also known for its network of canals, earning the nickname "Venice of the North."
Since it is relatively small and self-contained, the city is best seen from the water, where you will pass through many historical sights. It’s great exploring Amsterdam at one’s leisure.
You’ll find in Amsterdam world-famous attractions like the Rijksmuseum where you can be hypnotized by Rembrant’s masterpiece, Night Water. Later, we walked over to the Van Gogh Museum, where we marvelled at Van Gogh’s dazzling colors. Then we headed off to the galleries; the Royal Palace at the crowded part of the city on DAM Square; the Red Light District, famous for the girls who just sit tres demurely behind ground floor windows, hoping to attract customers. Walking pass these windows has become a regular pastime for visitors and locals alike.
Other discoveries: a friendly coffee house; a renowned park; a favorite shopping venue like The Magna Plaza shopping center; and cheese shops where the choices are almost endless.
But that does not end there, palanggas. Just a short drive from Amsterdam, you will find the unbelievable, world-renowned Keukenhof Gardens known as the world’s largest flower garden. It is visited by tourists from all over the world from March to the end of July.
The gardens span over 70 acres in which some six million bulbs are planted every year. Each garden has a specific design and character. By climbing the steps of the Groningen-type cornhill, you’ll have a view of tons and tons of flowers in such dazzling colors.
But if you tire of walking outdoors, don’t fret, palanggas. There is a huge indoor spring garden in a 7,000-square meter pavilion during the annual spring exhibition from April and May. Here you can drool over 500 different flower varieties which can viewed in 10 indoor flower shows under the name, "Parade."
Flowers, flowers and more gorgeous flowers! There was so much of them that our ace photographer Alex Van Hagen had a field day clicking his camera away.
Since flowers are a year-round industry in Holland, when you fly into Schiphol Airport (especially at this time of the year), you can behold huge picture-perfect fields with different varieties of flowers from the window of your Air France jet.
Millions of visitors spend a whole day breezing through the colossal gardens watching a fantastic display of over six million flowers including 1,000 varieties of gorgeous tulips alone.
Art plays a prominent role in Keukenhof, creating a beautiful harmony between nature and culture. Here, you will find a permanent exhibit of sculptures around the park done by renowned Dutch artists. There are also painting and photo exhibits shown in different pavilions.
The Nature Garden features a magnificent combination of perennials, bulb plants and tuberous plants above which are blooming shrubs and Oaks trees in their natural setting.
The Music Garden is a bit isolated from the busier routes of the garden. You can enjoy soothing music from hidden piped-in speakers while walking through the woodcock path and the marsh.
From 1401 to 1436, the Keukenhof estate belonged to Countess Jacoba Van Beieren. The estate was her home; it had her hunting grounds and the garden from which her household help would gather herbs for her castle’s kitchen.
The name Keukenhof is derived from the Countess’ passion for herbs. Translated, it means, "Kitchen Courtyard." Seven million flower bulbs cover this spectacularly designed park. Countess Jacoba would be pleased to know that the "new court suppliers" have transformed her "Kitchen Courtyard" into Europe’s largest garden.
We just had to have a nostalgic experience at the Historical Garden where walls enclose a formal garden which has a selection of bulb plants and perennials, both old and ancient. This interesting garden even contains a special section planted with Countess Jacoba’s cooking herbs.
This year’s newest attraction, the Japanese Garden, is right next to a Dutch landmark, the windmill. You will be amazed at how they have transformed an old-style garden into a modern tribute to nature. Everything in this garden was planted in collaboration with Hanakairo Park in Tohore, Japan. The garden pays tribute to 400 years of Japanese-Dutch relations.
All that walking will surely work up on appetite. That does not mean, though, that you have to take a break from flowers for a meal break. This one-of-a-kind park has several self-service restos, outdoor buffets and even Holland’s famous pancake restos called Poffertjes.
Moi could go on and on about this flower paradise. While moi lived in Holland for some years, moi would always make it a point to visit Keukenhof yearly during March to the end of July. Even to this day, the wonders of this garden never cease to amaze me.
Moi am not alone about how I feel about flowers. Ask any of my friends and or even strangers who have visited Keukenhof and they will echo exactly how I feel.
Before jetting out of Holland, we learned about that colossal happening that takes place only once every 10 years, The Floriade 2002, the world’s greatest horticultural exhibition. It opened last April 6 and will run until October 20, dahlings. Held in the district of Haariemmemeer, close to Schiphol Airport, it is expected to attract a whooping three million visitors.
Floriade 2002 showcases everything and anything about Dutch horticulture. Visitors can take a romantic trip here through international entries from Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Russia, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Colombia, the US, Canada, India, China, Pakistan, Japan, our very own Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, countries which have confirmed their participation.
Exhibitors will create over 300 truly exceptional displays and fabi presentations in the 65-hectare park, among them a fantastic valley of flowers with over a million bulbs. Now, dahlings, that is what I call really wow!
The ultimate landmark at Floriade 2002 is the sculpture on top of Big Spotters’ Hill. The view from this spot is phenomenal; at the foot of the 40-meter high sand pyramid lie 10 islands that house presentations on the theme of sustainability.
You can go on a time trip through the magical world of water, or take a look at the very heart of the earth. The bright yellow of the Roof, the largest solar array of its kind in the world, can be seen from miles around. On the park’s south side is a wooded area with a lake at the center. Twenty international gardens nestle at the water’s edge. Amazingly diverse, they range from an authentic Thai pavilion and a traditional Japanese garden to a modern French presentation.
Floriade 2002 is a paradise for gardeners and flower lovers. You have till October to check this awesome wonderland of plants and flowers, palanggas.
For more info and reservations, do call tres chic Air France’s Sales Technical Support officer, Maria Teresa "Tess" Zulueta at tel. no. 887-7587 or 887-7581. They will get you there the French way–in high style.
Yes, dahlings, there is no better place to relax than among the tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowers. This will surely be one trip that will blow your mind away over such gorgeous flower power.
Joining her were US Embassy Charge d’ Affairs Robert Fitts; Trade and Industry Secretary Mar Roxas; Berlitz Asia franchise manager Tom Godfrey; Berlitz Philippines chairman Renato Constantino Jr.; and Berlitz Philippines heavyweights Wilson Go, president; Alfred Tong, VP; Norbert Chingcuanco, VP; and Rita Kaw, treasurer.
The center is known worldwide for its non-traditional way of teaching foreign languages, popularly known as the Berlitz Method. Established 120 years ago, it boasts of top quality instruction. There are 350 Berlitz centers in 50 countries worldwide. Clients have included Meryl Streep; Francois Mitterand; Katherine Hepburn; Lee Lacocca; presidents John Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and Woodrow Wilson; Sinclair Lewis; Laura Esquivel; Enrico Caruso; Peter O’ Toole; Tom Brokaw; Celine Dion; Dayanara Torres; Antonio Banderas; Marlon Brando; King Alfonso XII of Spain; John Lennon; plus other hot names like them.
The invitees included hotshots UP president Dr. Francisco Nemenzo; PSE president Ernest Leung; Margarito Teves of Landbank; Rep. Jesli Lapus; civic leader Teresita Ang-See; super broadcast journalist Mel Tiangco; Wireless Services Asia co-founder and CEO Rainer Leinonen and VP for marketing Ardie Balderrama; Manuel Vicente Jayme; Manila Shimbun president Hirochika Noguchi; Thames International School director Joel Santos; Equitable-PCI Bank president Antonio Go; Tim Lavin of Ambergris Solutions; Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce secretary general Joaquin Sy; Medicomm’s GM Pol Moral; and Home Guarantee Corp. EVP Arthur Tan.
Naturellement, Renato C.’s famille came in full smiling force: his wife Lourdes; mother Letizia; eye-catching daughters, ANC newscaster Karmina and Ninel; and son-in-law Mark Garcia, husband of Marika Constantino-Garcia, director and GM of the Berlitz Language Center.
Have a safe weekend and be happy. See you.
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