TIP-TOE THROUGH THE TULIPS

Rhiannon and I took our annual excursion to Holland, Michigan, a bit early this year. We traveled up to one of our favorite Michigan sites last Friday because with the early spring, the tulips are at peak right now, several weeks prior to the annual tulip festival! This windmill "De Zwaan" (the swan) is old and much, much larger than it looks. It's currently under construction so we couldn't tour it. I have toured it twice before and the huge wooden beams and incredible engineering in this masterpiece are truly awesome. It is a working windmill that grinds flour and last I knew, the miller who works the windmill is a lady that had been trained in the Netherlands! This attraction is not far from Lake Michigan and catches some of the breezes from the lake.

Aren't these flowers gorgeous? I love this picture taken at Windmill Island, my personal favorite spot in Holland. I think I will eventually try to paint this picture. As a little girl I was always fascinated with windmills and even made up imaginary stories of how I was going to go to Holland and live in a windmill! I did eventually see one from the airplane when we landed in Amsterdam on our way to Africa in 2004. Since then I've learned of a several-greats-grandfather born in Rotterdam in the early 1700's. It all means more to me now!

More of the gardens at Windmill Island.


Another, smaller windmill at Windmill Island.



When we entered the area the gatekeeper said there were over 120,000 blooms!
This is just a fraction of the blooms to be enjoyed at Windmill Island. This city is such a treat! This field I am standing in is only one of many floral extravaganzas in town. The city park is planted with beds of tulips, the medians in many streets in the residential areas are blooming with tulips amongst fruit trees. Other major gardens in the area offer bulbs for sale as well as wooden shoes, costumes from the different provinces of the Netherlands, fudge, delftware, and Dutch baked goods. Each year we order more tulips for our gardens. With so many varieties available it's difficult to choose. We usually purchase five new ones each year.

Just recently I heard that Holland, Michigan was named among the top "happiest" towns in the country. It's easy to see why! How could you keep from being in a good mood with all this beauty surrounding you? Blessings, LORI