8. Street Style Gardening, Secret Gardens, Moody Beach Days.
Just a fuckton of flower photographs really. Sorry no tulips.
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Gratitude for City Parks and City Streets
Having lived in a city or suburbs for most of my life - I have grown dependent on parks. Feeling very blessed to currently be living in a country that during covid did not close all the parks (although some were closed), and also has a plethora of green (albeit cramped) spaces. Amsterdam’s parks are postcard-worthy, in spring they are loaded with the beauty of flowers, yes, tulips, but also magnolias, lilacs, wisteria, azaleas, and more.
Here’s a nice one of Erasmus the other day when the sun decided to grace us with her presence and all gray weather induced sobbing subsided for a moment:
Neighbourly Garden Delights
Now that the majority of leaves have fallen and are dust below our bicycle wheels, it’s a time to revisit a handful of planty highlights from the past year. Nico and I live between two of the city parks - for those familiar with Amsterdam they are: Erasmuspark and Westerpark. Lulu’s favourite is Erasmuspark, Elvis’ favourite is our balcony (sorry Elvis).
I have always daydreamed about having one of those lilac and wisteria washed balconies that I see when biking through springtime in Amsterdam. I told myself I would buy a few of these purple wonders this year in the hopes they will flower next year, but Nico and I are perpetually thinking we will move and we won’t commit to planting or changing anything that we can’t bring with us when we move next. So we have taken to enjoying neighbourly garden offerings. Somehow I could only manage to find a slightly shitty photo of these wisteria after flipping through all springtime photos from the past few years. I wish I could convince you through words how lovely the lilacs are here around march/april/may. They dance along every corner, winding up to the rooftops. Filling each narrow street with the sweet scent of their blooms. Just a rush of flower adrenaline as you zoom through the bike lanes, you feel their energy before you even turn the corner to see them. A true display of Amsterdam florals, even more Dutch than the monoculture of tulips.
When we moved into this apartment this past spring there was the most magnificent magnolia tree in full bloom just one building over. We had a full view every morning of the parrots fucking with it, the magpies dancing for each other, those blooms just providing every breath of springtime air.
Here’s the magnolia tree radiating in the rosy evening light:
Our neighbour directly below dotes on her micro forest, filled with every shrub, figs, herbs (which she shares <3), even a majestic elderflower tree that drapes over all the fairies who live amongst the greenery. She is often in the garden so I have yet to take a picture of it in it’s full glory without disturbing her or appearing like a stalker, but come spring I will sneak a few.
Now the air tastes like winter, we are just starting to be able to see our breath during Lulu’s walks or through the huffing that comes with biking against the wind. But most of November was spent relishing in the sweet smells of fallen leaves. Although we are nowhere near Canada or maple forests, for some reason the fallen leaves here let the streets fill with a dull candied maple scent. Maybe it is just sense memory overpowering my current senses but the dampness of the leaves, the bare branches, they smelled like home.
Open only during the spring/summer, the secret gardens of Westerpark are a magical treasure trove I may have mentioned before. These small plots of tiny houses and incredible gardens were first created during the Great Depression to allow workers to plant potagers. Here are a few moments captured from our frequent walks through the lush pathways:
Beach Indulging
One of my favourite ways to unwind is a visit to the beach, although I am actually terrified of stepping into the ocean. Luckily we are give or take a twenty minute drive to Parnassia aan Zee, my favourite patch of sand. A walk along the shore, just long enough to feel like I am in Something’s Gotta Give, can provide a decent refresh from dense city living. Most often it is too cold or windy to really soak up some vitamin d (does wind deter vitamin d in the height of summer? sure feels like it), but a moody beach day can really cure city woes.
We recently headed out to this beach with my sister and Lulu in tow. It was Lulu’s first time at the beach, I was just praying she didn’t eat sand or slurp up one of the many booger shaped jellyfish populating the Dutch shores this summer.
Once last spring I convinced Nico to drive all the way to The Hague to catch the full moon. I had heard that there was a James Turrell permanent exhibit across from the beach there where one could lie down and feel at one in the sky. Unfortunately, due to common weather circumstances here, the sky was filled with clouds and no moon was to be found. Some of you may know I am quite witchy and frequently pull Nico into these little rituals. Even though the sky was opaque, the sky was streaked with striking pink and we had this sacred space to ourselves. So we laid out a few crystals, lit a couple lanterns, had a mini tea ceremony and enjoyed the magical energy of the place.
Some things nourishing me this week:
The last pears from the farmer’s market. There is a man who was only there a handful of weeks and sold just the pears and apples from his modest Dutch garden. They melted like butter and I feel sorry I always ate them too fast to take a picture.
Breathwork - covid is spiraling again here and breathwork helps me to keep the peace a bit easier. A friend recently recommended bee breath, it is super simple and if you were looking for a sign to start some sort of a meditation, this is it.
Finally watching the newest season of Tuca and Bertie with Nico after waiting a couple of years. Honestly, one of the best adult animated series - yes, even better than Bojack.
This was hilarious, sorry girl I had to share
The purple hyacinth bloom
The stacks of Panettone at all the delis, a true indicator of the upcoming holiday season.
This moment
Also this, sorry for the grainy photo the lighting is quite terrible in the living room
There is a lot of fear and stress going around in the media about numerous things. I hope you can carve out some space for your mental health, maybe indulge in a couple friendly plant purchases in case where you are is locking down again. Hoping you and your loved ones are safe and well <3 see you a lot this week as I wrap up the month with a new recipe, some plant advice and finally, those podcasts.
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