HORTUS BULBORUM or TREASURY OF HISTORIC BULBS

[Lvandelft]

This week we have visited the Hortus Bulborum at Limmen, about 40 kms.
from our place. Roughly 15 kms. south of Alkmaar.

In this garden there are more than 3500 different bulbs, many of them rare.
Only of tulips there are about 2600 varieties.
Narcissus about 800 var's.

The oldest tulip is from 1595: Duc van Tol Red and Yellow.
I saw a bed with variegated Fritillaria imperialis, from the 17 th Century,
but flowering time was over already.

The aim is to preserve historic tulips and also to be a living reference collection.
The work is done by retired gardeners for free.

I made lots of pictures but first I show some pictures to let you know how it is looking.

Idyllic place in a small Dutch village   
Breeder Tulipa beds         
Breeder tulips text       
GreigiiTulipa text               
Tulipa acuminata  bed     
Tulipa beds 1         
Tulipa beds 4       
Tulipa beds 2       
Tulipa julia known since 1849

[Lvandelft]

Most impressive to see beds cultivated of an almost 400 year old tulip:
Tulipa  Lac van Rijn 1620 beds 

Nice sitting betweenTulipa beds         

Tulipa beds 5         
Tulipa beds 3         
Tulipa beds 6       

There are also some very recent tulips to see:

Tulipa Triumph Group Marjolein Bastin 2005

Still flowering Early Double Tulipa's 2         
Still flowering Early Double Tulipa's 1

If you want to see more tulips from this garden I can make some series.
Please let me know if you are interested.

[Paddy Tobin]

Luit,

A magnificent kaleidiscope of colour.

Paddy

[Lesley Cox]

More great tulips from Holland. One name there rings a bell for me. Years ago (probably 40, my mother had a patch of Tulipa `Dillenburg.' I remember it was a lovely shape and of a beautiful soft orange colour.

[johnw]

Luit - Wow, those T. acuminata are splendid!

johnw

[Gerdk]

Luit,
So many colours, such interesting information, wonderful places!
Thank you!

Gerd

[Boyed]

Luit,

as always you astonish us with your excellent topics and superb pictures!!! Just great! I always entered Hortus Bulborum website's gallery to see thier updates with tulip photos, but unfortunately their gallery hasn't been updated for more than a year. And thanks a lot for that topic.

Pleased to see our native tulip tulipa juliae in your pics and breeder tulip beds. Breeder tulips are the ones I am most interested in lately. And by the way, I have something to consult with you. I found a very old coffee-brown tulip and wanted to show you the pics hoping that we can identify it. It survived in one of my collegue's garden from Soviet times. The colour is so strange that it is difficult to describe. The pics will come soon.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Talking about colour.... there's some colour there Luit ! 
Stunning pictures !  Thanks for showing.

[annew]

What a wonderful place, and open for people to enjoy too!

[Lvandelft]

More great tulips from Holland. One name there rings a bell for me. Years ago (probably 40, my mother had a patch of Tulipa `Dillenburg.' I remember it was a lovely shape and of a beautiful soft orange colour.

At your service, Lesley.
Here is Tulipa Dillenburg, registred in 1916. It's still one of the latest tulips.

[David Nicholson]

What a lovely place Luit, more pictures please whenever you have the time.

[Lesley Cox]

Thank you for `Dillenburg' Luit. Takes me right back to my late mother's garden. I wouldn't want to go there now, as it has a rather horrid house built on top of it. 

I think I'll have to try growing some tulips again. Too late for this year but next summer/autumn.....

[mark smyth]

Luit I think this time next year you must organise a visit to your friends collection and this one. I would definitely come

[Boyed]

Lesley,

And here is my "Dillenburg" (5 photos in different conditions).
I LOVE THIS TULIP A LOT: wonderful colour, large flawers, nice fragrance and very late flowering habitat.

http://tulipdatabase.narod.ru/dillenburg.html

[Paul T]

What a place, Luit.  impressive!!