Thanks to the relatively low temperatures, the early flowering Stinzenplants can still be admired and the species that flower a little later are  coming into bloom. We will illustrate the present situation by some quotes from our correspondents:

Pastorietuin Easterein: After the very slow start of the flowering of the Dutch crocus, last week they came at their peak. The Snowflake is still in full bloom. Exactly a month ago, the first flowers were barely an inch above the ground.

Martenastate: The transition from the first spring flowering to the second is happening at Martenastate. Snowdrops are still there but the flowering is decreasing. Many Crocuses are still at their peak, while a part has already blossomed. The next phase js starting and will further develop in the coming weeks with the Bulbous Corydalis and the Common Lungwort. At the Grien Festival in the coming two weeks, these flowers will enliven the Park.

Jongemastate: In Park Jongemastate in Raerd, spring is finally becoming visible and audible.
Many Snowdrops have now blossomed, but ….. there are also many that are still in full bloom and all in all, these thousands of Snowdrops still provide a white blanket, a snow carpet. Snowflakes are still in full bloom and here and there two flowers dangle on one stem … The flowers of the White Butterbur and Butterbur are in full bloom and ensure that many insects, including the wild bee, can refuel.

Hackfort: Every year it is a surprise to see how the purple flowers of the Glory-of-the-snow appear everywhere in the garden from scratch. Together with the flowering Wood Anemones it formes a beautiful spectacle. In addition, the Bulbous Corydalis and the Bird in a bush will unfold their flowers in more and more places. The Wild Daffodil and the Squills (Scilla bifolia)are now fully in bloom.

Stinze Stiens: We are in Slovenia this week where we make a trip organized at our request by Nature in colour. This is an office for exclusive wildlife holidays and trips in Slovenia of the Dutchman Paul Veenvliet who lives in Slovenia. We visit several places in Slovenia where many of the Stinzenplants occur in the wild. The subsoil is often limestone, but sandstone also occurs. The soil is generally more or less humid and has a beautiful soil structure. The clay content varies from fairly little clay to loamy clay soil. The vegetation differs considerably for the various locations. It is very interesting to see which species occur side by side in a given situation. We will give a more detailed report next week. Species that we follow in our monitor and that are found in the wild in Slovenia are: Winter Aconite, Snowdrop, Snowflake, Crocus vernus, Squills (Scilla bifolia), Bulbous Corydalis, Bird in a bush, Dog’s Tooth Violet, Wood Anemone, Yellow Anemone, Snake’s Head Fritillary, White Butterbur, Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem ( various species), Common Lungwort, Star-of-Bethlehem (various species), Italian Lords-and-Ladies, Lords-and-Ladies, Bear’s Garlic, Pheasant’s Eye. We have seen most of these species in the wild. It is fascinating to see certain plants in very different locations in the wild and also in very different combinations and densities. In addition to the mentioned species, there are also several other interesting early bloomers such as the Liverleaf, various types of Helleborus, Annual Mercury etc.

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

Stinzenflora-monitor Calendar 2018 week 13. Scroll horizontally to view all plants. Learn more about a terrain or stinzenplant? Click on the name in the table.

Events *:

The participants in the Stinzenflora-monitor organize 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 ESTATES

For your agenda *:

Events April:

Dekema State Jelsum. Museum weekend 14 and 15 April. Spring Fair 28 April: with a Stinzenplants search map you make a tour during these events. For prices, opening times and activities see the website. www.dekemastate.nl

Martenastate Koarnjum. Freely accessible. (www.martenastate.nl) Activities in the context of Leeuwarden-Fryslân 2018: Grien Festival, start Easter Monday 2 April, will last until 15 April. And further: excursions and courses Nature Photography Stinzenflora. For dates, prices and registration see the website http://www.martenastate.nl and It Fryske Gea. http://www.itfryskegea.nl/eropuit

Schierstins Feanwâlden. Museum weekend 14 en 15 April. Tours in the garden and the building. For prices, opening times and activities see the website. www.schierstins.nl 

Stinze Stiens, Martenastate (Koarnjum), Dekema State (Jelsum).
7 April 2018 ‘StinzenFloraTour’ with the Frisian horse-drawn tram in a fully arranged experience package.
Program:
A warm welcome with coffee and ‘Frisian orange cake’ at Pakhûs SOLO in Stiens. Here begins the StinzenFloraTour with a ‘chat’ about the cultural-historical background of the Stinzenplants and information about the garden at the Doctors house designed by the 19th century garden architect Gerrit Vlaskamp, followed by a walk through the garden. The journey continues with the horse tram to the Martenastate estate in Koarnjum where a walk through the park,  richly filled with Stinzenflora, with an expert guide. At the Túnmanswente a Frysian lunch is ready. At Dekema State in Jelsum, a centuries-old ‘State’ with beautiful garden and forest, the garden manager will be the tour guide. Tea/coffee at the tea house in the end. The horse-drawn tram will take you back to the starting location in Stiens in the afternoon. Costs all included: € 49.50 per person.

Reservations are necessary and can be done up to April 4 via https://stinze-stiens.nl/agenda/

Announcements:

Tourist brochure ‘Stinzenflora in Friesland’: For everyone who wants to go out in the spring, a new handy brochure ‘Stinzenflora in Friesland’ is also available at the tourist centers and affiliated organizations (VVV’s and TIP’s). It was developed in cooperation of the participants in the Stinzenflora-monitor and the tourist organizations Uytland / Destination Noardwest and the regions De Greidhoeke and Noardlike Fryske Wâlden. The folder provides information in Dutch and English and shows which locations are real thriving hotspots in Friesland.

App Stinzenflora (only for Android): The organization Nature2U has independently developed an app (only for Android) with information about Stinzenflora. In this Stinzenflora app all Dutch Stinzenplants and companions are described with country of origin and details. The app is composed with Stinzenplant specialist Heilien Tonckens and nature photographer Wil Leurs, supplemented with some photos of waarneming.nl . The plants are easy to find with flower color and shape or for florists by family classifying. In addition, there are also overviews of the Stinzenflora of the Vecht region and Friesland.
More information via www.nature2U.nl

* Subject to change. Consult always the websites of the participants for the latest information.

• Volgende: Stinzenflora-monitor 2018: Calendar week 14
• Vorige: Stinzenflora-monitor 2018: Calendar week 12