Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: bloem

In the Netherlands the ‘kievitsbloem’ (snake’s head) is a very rare flower, which is even legally protected. Most of them - about 80% - can be found around the city of Hasselt in the province of Overijssel Sometimes there are many flowering together and people call it the natural bulb fields of the Netherlands. It is commonly found growing in grasslands in damp soils and river meadows along the rivers ‘de Vecht’ and ‘Zwarte Water’. Snake’s Heads are flowering from mid April till early May. It has a couple of names, like Snake’s Head Fritillary, Checkered Daffodil, Chess Flower and Leper Lily (in the Netherlands ‘kievitsbloem’). Pictures were taken in a small nature reserve, called ‘De Brommerd’ (see PiP).

The lovely gardens of castle ‘De Wildenborch’ are open for the public a couple of times a year. We visited during a grey and gloomy Sunday afternoon, especially to see the blooming winter aconites (and lots of snow drops). Winter aconites are quite rare native European woodland plants. They flower early spring - just as the first snowdrops begin to bloom - and have a solitary bright yellow flower. The plant has a height of 5 - 8 cm. Picture 'De Wildenborch': www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/30931753/in/album/537955

Part of the estate grounds of Kasteel Zwaluwenburg ( www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/27937469/in/album/537955 ) is so called 'Klein Zwitserland' (Little Switzerland). It is a little bit hilly area with winding narrow paths. In spring it is full with flowering rhododendrons and azaleas of different colours.