Utrecht botanic gardens - annual Dutch Alpine Garden Society plantsale

[Paul E.]

Although already living in Utrecht now for two months, today was my first visit to the Botanic gardens for the annual Nederlandse Rotsplanten Vereniging (Dutch Alpine Garden Society) plant sale. It was a really pleasant experience,  and some great atmosphere even boardering a 'festival' vibe at the plant sale, and I suppose the tremendous weather added to it (am already developing a tan working in the garden). There was international flavour, not just with the plants - I could pick up some English being spoken, and quite some German.

Not sure if anyone else on the forum here was present, as I forgot to bring a camera for some pictures, so it would be nice to see a few images if anyone has some!  The Dutch are certainly passionate about their plants, alpines no exception; it was a struggle to get some shoulder space at most of the stalls. Coming into the gardens I wasn't sure there'd even be much good left by the time I reached the sales seeing the great big storage boxes of plants people were already dragging out. Despite the crowds, there was still the possibility of course to chat with some really friendly and knowledgable people - for some of the plants on sale the story behind their collection in the wild is almost worth the money alone!

The botanic gardens at Utrecht are really fabulous, I'd advise anyone visiting the country to stop by there if they can. The predominant feature of the garden is the very large 'rotstuin', well worth some time to explore. I'll be visiting again soon to take a better look, will upload a good few pictures then.

[Lvandelft]

Hi Paul, if you would have announced that you planned to visit the plantsale, then I am sure you would have met some Forumists there.
I did at least meet three Forumists there and some lurkers too.
I had my camera with me and made some pictures.

[Armin]

Paul,
thanks for the info.

Luit,
it starts promising... Please show us more

[Diane Clement]

I just love those big balls.  I've seen pictures before but never worked out if they have compost inside or are they solid rock? 
The daphne is amazing. 

[Lvandelft]

Diane, these balls were made to inspire people to use recycled materials they don’t want anymore in the garden. (to show how material
could be used when disposed) and inside they are filled with soil.
They are .. just raised beds in a different form made from broken paving slabs.
Here you will read more in the old Forum:

http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/1078/10834.html ( old  forum no longer  available)

and another article by Sandy Leven in the Forum’s main pages:

http://www.srgc.org.uk/feature/utrecht/utrecht.html
Armin, I just made a few pictures because I showed last year several
pics. on the Forum and this time of year most will look the same.

This is the only picture left on my camera, showing the Forumists
Paul Egan might have seen when he was at the plant sale.
Some of them were there all day…

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Mmmm... I guess we spent far too much time chatting to allow you to take more pictures Luit ! 

We had a great day - the weather was marvelous and the company very entertaining...    Great to see you again after a few years.

[Paul E.]

I'll try remember the faces! Will keep an eye on the NRV shedule, do you reckon many of the events are English friendly?  Mijn Nederlands is noch niet goed genoeg!

Indeed Sandy Leven's article on the Gardens is a good and informative one, I'm glad it's got a permanent home online.

[Paul E.]

Well finally getting round to posting some pictures up here as promised earlier! I only just got back to the gardens today.

So here's a few shots of the place with a few plants thrown in for good measure also. Enjoy!

 

[Lvandelft]

Great to see some pictures from there some weeks later, Paul.
Thank you for showing them.

[Maggi Young]

How do they get access into that alpine house to tend the plants? The Staff must be mountain goats

[Lvandelft]

How do they get access into that alpine house to tend the plants? The Staff must be mountain goats

"There's often a clue" 

[Maggi Young]

How do they get access into that alpine house to tend the plants? The Staff must be mountain goats

"There's often a clue" 

 Oh! !!