Snowdrops at Martenastate.

Snowdrops at Martenastate. Photo: Sjoerd Hogerhuis.

This is the first report of season 2018 of the Stinzenflora-monitor. For the first time, the site can now also be followed in English.

All participating locations report that the Snowdrops are now mostly above the ground. Due to the cold of the past few days, they are a bit modest and most flowers are not fully open yet.

Winter Aconite in in the Pastorietuin (Rectory Garden) Easterein.

Winter Aconite in in the Pastorietuin (Rectory Garden) Easterein.

As soon as the temperature rises and the sun will shine more, they will come into full bloom. The Martenatuin formulates the situation of the past weeks as follows:

Snowdrops (Frysian: Liderke) already in full bloom in the Martenatuin (Franeker) on 29 January.

Snowdrops (Frysian: Liderke) already in full bloom in the Martenatuin (Franeker) on 29 January.

Spring was in the air in week 5. Days of over 10 degrees Celsius causes that flowering starts with the slightest sunshine. But this week the wind blows literally and figuratively from a completely different angle. Then you realise that it is still winter. And actually that is not so bad for the Stinzenplants. Because at high temperatures like last week the flowering period of these beautiful plants is a lot shorter and that would be a real pity.

Snowdrops and Winter Aconites at Philippusfenne

The Guinea fowl looks around between the Snowdrops and Winter Aconites at Philippusfenne.

Philippusfenne describes the current situation:

Many Snowdrops, but the flowers are not yet open and it seems like they want to crawl back into the ground with this cold! The plants are much smaller than last week.

Winter Aconies around and at St. Vitus Church Yard in Stiens

Winter Aconies around and at St. Vitus Church Yard in Stiens open up in the sun.

The Winter Aconites are already fully in bloom at the Vitus Church in Stiens and the flowers open as soon as it is not too cold and the sun shines. A few have even finished blooming, while in places that are more in the shade the flower buds are visible but are not yet open. At Stinze-Stiens the spread is even greater, partly they are already in full bloom, partly under the ground and partly just above the ground. Winter Aconites if present are visible in all participating terrains and most of them will start to come in full bloom as soon as it gets warmer and the sun shines. Snowflakes are already above the ground and begin to form flower buds. The Crocuses start to show some color here and there, but mostly only the leafs are visible. The Tomasini’s crocus has more color, but the frost has done no good for this species.

The fact that the plants usually only fully open when it is warmer makes them pollinated by bumblebees and bees. These are only active when it is warm enough, 5-7 degrees Celsius is the minimum. If the flowering takes place mainly at lower temperatures, virtually no seed will be formed. Snowdrops also seem to be pollinated by spreading pollen through the wind. The circumstances must then be favourable for this phenomenon.

On 27 January 2018, the church bells were ringing at 10 pm. all over Fryslân for the start of Leeuwarden/Fryslân European Capital of Culture 2018 (@LF2018). The day after the Snowdrops joined: Welcome, welcome to Fryslân.

The Dutch name of the Snowdrop, which translates to Snowbells, already indicates the waving of the flowers in the wind, which is a beautiful sight. Snowdrops appeal to many people. Especially in England there is a huge interest in this plant species. Many sites in England with lots of snowdrops are open in february to attract (paying) visitors for these beautiful spring flowers.

Dodonaeus, Snowdrop

Remberto Dodonaeo, Florum, et coronariarum odoratarumque nonnullarum herbarum historia, Antwerp (Plantijn) Altera Editio, 1569

The well-known physician / botanist Dodonaeus, whose father came from Friesland, writes in 1568 that the Snowdrop was then called in Dutch witte Tydeloosen (white Timeless) and in German, weiĂź Hornungs blumen. Hornung means February, which refers to the fact that they often bloom in our regions in February. The word Tydeloos refers to the fact that a plant blooms outside the season when most plants bloom, so very early or very late in the year. In Dutch, the term Voorlentebloeier (Pre spring flowering) is also used, which indicates that a plant already blooms before spring begins. The Van der Passe Florilegium from 1614 divides the plants into the seasons in which they bloom, and therefore classifies the Snowdrop and the Winter Aconite within the group of plants that bloom in the winter. The word snow in the name also indicates the flowering of the plant in the winter. In French the name is Perce Neige, which literally means that the plant pierces through the snow.

The coming week higher temperatures are predicted and it is certainly worthwhile to go out to see the Snowdrops and Winter Aconites in all their winter splendour. It is also nice to pay attention when you see the first bee or bumblebee at one of these flowers. Spring is coming!

Calendar 2018 week 6
SnowdropWinter AconiteDutch CrocusSnowflakeSquillWhite ButterburJapanese ButterburCommon Lungwort
Dekema State
Hackfort
Jongemastate
Martenastate
Martenatuin
Pastorietuin Easterein
Philippusfenne
Schierstins
St. Vituskerk
Stinze Stiens

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

Stinzenflora-monitor Calendar 2018 week 6. 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 in March:

Pastorietuin Easterein. Opening a weekend around mid-March depending on flowering and weather. See the website for exact dates and prices. Groups at least 8 pers. by appointment. Entrance € 4,50. www.facebook.com/pastorietuineasterein/

Activities 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

Frisian horse-drawn tram in front of Stinze Stiens.

Frisian horse-drawn tram in front of Stinze Stiens.

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 PakhĂ»s 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 TĂşnmanswente 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:

New tourist brochure 'Stinzenflora in Friesland'

New tourist brochure ‘Stinzenflora in Friesland’

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

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: 10-11 March 12.00 – 5.00 pm., Free access. Address: Grietha and Mijnard Scheers, Pastorieweg 24, 9989 BM Warffum (province of Groningen). g.e.scheers@hetnet.nl. (+31 0595 42 23 63)

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.