At the moment we are at a temporary turning point in the growth and flowering of Stinzenplants that is accompanied by a weather change. The unusually warm weather is now alternated by somewhat more normal weather and therefore lower temperatures.

Flowering: start full decreasing
Present: here and there regular massive

Stinzenflora-monitor Calendar 2019 week 9. Scroll horizontally to view all plants. Learn more about a terrain or stinzenplant? Click on the name in the table.

The very early flowering Stinzenplants such as the Winter Aconites and the Snowdrops are clearly on their way back. Contrary to what I said last week, there are currently still differences in the flowering phase of the various sites. The Winter Aconites  at Stinze Stiensare over  and it is expected that this will happen next week  as well at Philippusfenne. The Snowdrops are also almost everywhere over the peak. The sunnier the position of these plants, the sooner they come into bloom and the earlier they have blossomed.

The coming week may be the last week that Snowdrops can still be enjoyed, such as at Jongemastate. Although there is very little sun predicted and some rain for the coming week, fields of Snowdrops will still offer a nice view in soft light. The Dutch Crocuses will stil flower next week, but they are at their best when they are open and that will hardly be the case next week.

We will also see a lot less bumblebees and bees on the flowers next week, because they need temperatures of more than 9 to 10 degrees to become active.

Due to the presence of the many insects last week, it is expected that a lot of seed will be produced from the early bloomers. Harvesting a part of this seed when it is ripe and scattering it in places that are suitable is an excellent way to expand the vegetation with Stinzenplants. It takes a few years before you see new flowering specimens, but it is less work than to re-plant bulbs.

 

Now is also a good time to dig up Snowdrops (on your own land) where they grow densely together and plant them where you would like to expand them. We plant them as individual bulbs 5 to 10 cm apart and in this way we create meandering paths of Snowdrops through the garden. These paths expand rapidly because they self-seed and they also form new bulbs. A condition for success is that the soil is suitable. The soil is and remains the basis for success.

The Tommasini’s Crocus is less able to withstand rain when they are in bloom and they are already on their return. Combined with the lower temperatures, this means that the flowering season of the Tommasini’s Crocus is now over. Dekema State philosophies about different ways in which crocuses are able to jump ‘over the canal’. Wim Hoogendam thinks that this is caused by birds that have eaten seeds. The Guild of Head Gardeners thinks that mice are involved.

The Snowflakes are still full in bloom and due to the lower temperatures they will remain nice in the coming week. Philippusfenne sent a photo taken last year at the end of March. At the moment it looks  the same. Because of the warm weather we are partly 3-4 weeks earlier than ‘normal’. But what is normal in these times where there is clear evidence of climate change. Just like the Snowdrops, the Snowflakes are also beautiful in soft light without sun.

Concerning the Snowflakes there are terrains where there are only plants with two flowers per stalk, like at Philippusfenne while in other terrains the Snowflakes have one flower per stalk. These are probably different varieties. At the Schierstins, the Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem, which is very rare in the Netherlands, just started to bloom.

The Hellebores are still blooming and the two species of Squills start to bloom. The Scilla bifolia (with two leaves), has blue flowers that stand upright, while the Scilla Siberica also has blue flowers, but ‘these flowers looks at the ground’. The Bulbous Corydalis is starting to bcome visible  and in sunny places there are already a few specimens in bloom. Especially in the Martenatuin early flowering of the Bulbous Corydalis can be admired. In the coming period, these plants will increasingly come into bloom.

The Common Lungwort is also slowly starting to blossom and the Wild Daffodil is now budding, but is not blooming yet.

Events *:

The participants in the Stinzenflora-monitor organise various activities during the Stinzenflora season. The events that are now known are listed below. ‘Open gardens’ with private garden owners are often mentioned shortly before in this calendar and on the websites of the participants. Opening up depends on the flowering of the Stinzenplants  and the weather.
For possibilities of (group) visits you can contact the relevant participant.

Data: see TERRAINS

For in the agenda *:

Events in March:

Stinzenflora paradise at Hackfort Castle (Vorden), 10 March, 11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. Enjoy spring at Hackfort. The foresters open up the gates of the forecourt of Hackfort castle. Access is free. Guided tours possible (entrance fee).

Martenastate Koarnjum. 17 March, Nature photography excursion with Betty Kooistra. Extra information www.martenastate.nl. 30 March, Walking tour stinzenflora. This trip will be guided by Geert de Vries or Aad van der Burg. To register, please contact It Fryske Gea: www.itfryskegea.nl/activiteiten. 

Events in April:

Spring tour* ‘Stinzenflora’. Saturday 13 April (van 10.30 a.m. tot 4.30 p.m. ) During this spring tour (10.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m. ) three beautiful Stinzenflora parks will be visited: Stinze Stiens, Martenastate en Dekemastate. At every location a guide will give information.Participants take care of their own transport, a bicycle is recommended. Costs € 35,-p.p., incl. lunch and coffee or tea in the morning and a drink in the afternoon. Booking via informatie@tunmanswente.nl
This trip can also be booked by groups on request on other days (at least 12 participants, duur 10.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.). A business trip or a trip with the family is also possible with a horse tram (extra costs, at least 20 participants.
*if there are not enough participants the trip will be canceled. 

Dekema State Jelsum. Museum weekend 13 and 14 April. Spring Fair 20 April: with a Stinzenplants search map you make a tour during these events and Willem van Riemsdijk will give a lecture about the cultural history of Stinzenplants. For prices, opening times and other activities see the website. www.dekemastate.nl

Schierstins Feanwâlden. 13 en 14 april, 13.30-17.00 uur. Museumweekend with tours garden / building. Entrance fee reduced; tour for free. http://www.schierstins.nl

Martenastate Koarnjum. 2 and 27 Aprl, Nature photography excursions with Betty Kooistra. 6, 13, 20, 21 en 22 April, Walking tours stinzenflora. Theses trip will be guided by Geert de Vries or Aad van der Burg. Extra information www.martenastate.nl. To register, please contact It Fryske Gea: www.itfryskegea.nl/activiteiten.

Announcements:

The Pastorietuin ‘De Weem’ in Warffum (Groningen) wrote a ‘blog’ on this website last year in the MANAGEMENT section. De Weem reports us: Snowdrops open garden: 09-10 March 12.00 – 5.00 pm., Free access.
Pastorieweg 24
9989 BM Warffum (province of Groningen)
For centuries, many varieties of Stinzenplants have been growing in this garden of 7,000 square meters: Winter akonite, Snowdrop, Bulbous Corydalis, Bird in a Bush, Squills, various types of Lords-and-Ladies, Salomon’s seal, Wild tulip and Star-of-Bethlehem. Due to the massive growth of the Stinzenplants, only the shell paths are used.

* Subject to change. Always consult the websites of the participants for the latest information.

• Volgende: Stinzenflora-monitor 2019: Calendar week 10
• Vorige: Stinzenflora-monitor 2019: Calendar week 8