06/16/04

Our first weekend excursion was to the Netherlands to visit Keukenhof Gardens, known for their beautiful tulip displays.    The Gardens are open from late March until mid-May, with the peak being in late April.  Since we went so early in the season, many flowers had not yet bloomed.  However, there are several indoor displays, which are absolutely delightful, especially on a breezy, overcast afternoon.  Keukenhof claims to display over 500 varieties of tulips among the 5 million bulbs planted; we didn't stop to count, but there were quite a few.

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In addition to the tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths, there is an Orchid House and Swan Lake.

The Keukenhof Gardens are located in Lisse, Netherlands, about 45 minutes south/southwest of Amsterdam.  Also, visit their official site (there is an option for English at the bottom of the page).