lathyrus

The Sweet Joy of Picking Lathyrus (Sweet Peas) in the Netherlands!

Imagine a sun-drenched afternoon, a gentle breeze carrying the most enchanting fragrance… You’re not just strolling through a field, you’re on a mission – a delightful quest to gather nature’s most delicate treasures: Lathyrus, more commonly known as Sweet Peas!

In the picturesque landscapes of the Netherlands, several charming farms open their gates, inviting you to experience the pure joy of a “pluktuin” (picking garden). And among the vibrant rows, the sweet pea stands out as a true star. It’s an experience that’s wonderfully simple yet incredibly rewarding.

Whether you go solo, seeking a moment of mindful tranquility amongst the pastel hues, or bring along your favourite people – friends, family, or even tiny tot assistants – picking sweet peas is an absolute delight. You’ll spend happy moments bending down, selecting each perfect bloom, feeling the delicate stems, and inhaling that iconic, intoxicating perfume. It’s like aromatherapy straight from the earth!

There’s a unique satisfaction in building your very own bouquet, stem by delicate stem. No two bunches are ever the same, each reflecting the personality of its picker. It’s more than just getting flowers; it’s about reconnecting with nature, creating memories, and bringing a piece of that pastoral beauty back to your home. Plus, let’s be honest, flowers you’ve picked yourself just feel more special, don’t they? It’s a low-cost, high-joy outing that leaves you with a beautiful bounty and a heart full of happy memories.

Bringing the Sweet Pea Charm Home: Decoration Delights!

Once you’ve returned home, armed with your fragrant haul, the fun continues! Lathyrus, or Sweet Peas, are all about bringing beauty and fragrance indoors. These captivating blooms are a decorator’s dream, famous for their ruffled petals and sweet, heady perfume. Here’s how to let your picked sweet peas shine:

The Classic Charm: Arrange them simply in a slender vase. A cluster of just a few stems can transform a bedside table, desk, or bathroom vanity. Their delicate nature means they don’t need much fuss to look utterly elegant.
Mixed Bouquets: While beautiful on their own, sweet peas also play wonderfully with others! Combine them with some greenery, other garden flowers, or even a few sprigs of herbs like mint for a wonderfully rustic and fragrant arrangement.
Floating Delights: For an instant touch of sophistication, snip off a few flower heads and float them in a shallow bowl of water. It makes for a stunning centerpiece or a tranquil accent in any room.
Gift Embellishments: Tie a small posy of sweet peas with some twine around a gift package. It adds a personal, fragrant, and utterly charming touch that shows you care.
Whimsical Touches: Feeling playful? Tuck a few stems into your hair for a romantic, bohemian look, or even place a tiny bloom beside a place setting for a special dinner.

Important Note for Our Sweet Pea Admirers: While their beauty and fragrance are undeniable, it’s crucial to remember that Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus) are primarily cultivated for their ornamental value. They are not intended for consumption. So, please admire these lovely blooms with your eyes and nose, but keep them out of your culinary creations and cocktails. Their beauty is best enjoyed visually and olfactorily!

Moestuin Vollenhoven

flowers, vegetables, berries

utrecht

Moestuin Vollenhoven is a historical and regenerative kitchen garden nestled on Landgoed Vollenhoven. This garden operates with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, cultivating all its produce biologically without the use of artificial fertilizers or pesticides. It features unique historical glasshouses dating back to 1800 and 1854, which are still actively used today. Visitors to Moestuin Vollenhoven can engage in several activities and offerings: One of the primary self-picking activities is flower picking, available throughout all four seasons using a special clipping card. The variety of flowers for self-picking changes with the seasons:

Pluktuin de Melkweg

flowers, herbs

overijssel

Pluktuin de Melkweg, located in Oud-Bergentheim at Hardenbergerweg 19a, offers a self-service flower-picking experience. Visitors can select from over 40 varieties of flowers, including dahlia, cosmea, zinnia, strawflower, sweet pea, great masterwort, hyssop, dill, yarrow, scabious, sunflower, cornflower, amaranthus, delphinium, ornamental tobacco, coneflower, sea lavender, goldenrod, coreopsis, snapdragon, drumstick flower, marigold, beardtongue, Chinese aster, and African marigold. The garden is currently closed for the season and anticipates reopening in 2026. When open, it operates Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, remaining closed on Sundays. Guests can find scissors in a green garden shed and are encouraged to create varied bouquets. Payment is self-service, available via Tikkie (QR code) or cash, with small bouquets priced at €7.50 and large bouquets at €12.50. Parking is available on the farmyard.

De Huppe

flowers, herbs

overijssel

De Huppe is an experience farm located on the outskirts of Zwolle, serving as a vibrant place where people, nature, and craftsmanship converge. It functions as a learning and working farm, providing a supportive environment for individuals to grow and develop skills through various activities. The farm features an organic pick-your-own and vegetable garden (“pluk- en moestuin”) where visitors can immerse themselves in sustainable cultivation. From early spring, visitors can enjoy picking fresh tulips, and throughout the summer, they are invited to self-pick a variety of flowers to create unique bouquets. Additionally, edible flowers and herbs are available for picking, perfect for enhancing salads, desserts, or beverages, or for making homemade flower or herb butter.

de Buytenhof

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs

zuid-holland

Boerderij de Buytenhof is a self-picking farm and care farm located in Rhoon, near Rotterdam, offering visitors a tranquil experience of farm life. The farm is dedicated to nature-inclusive agriculture and provides meaningful daytime activities for adults with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. Visitors can enjoy a variety of self-picking opportunities throughout the seasons: Apples: Available for self-picking from approximately late August to mid-October. Varieties include Delcorf, Elstar, Goudreinet, and Jonagold. Pears: Also available for self-picking from late August to mid-October, featuring varieties like Doyenne de Comice, Conference, and Triumph de Vienne. Strawberries: Self-picking is typically offered for about five weeks around late May to early June. Pumpkins: Harvested by visitors during the annual “Oogstdag” (Harvest Day), usually in September. Potatoes: Can be dug up by hand during the “Oogstdag” in September. Flowers: The flower picking garden is open from June to late September, featuring over 60 different types of flowers, including dahlias, marigolds, daisies, and lavender. Beyond self-picking, the farm boasts a charming tea house (“Theeschenkerij”) serving homemade dishes, cakes, and drinks made with farm-fresh ingredients. There’s also a farm shop (“Boerderijwinkel”) selling local and seasonal produce like fruits, vegetables, fresh herbs, meat, eggs, honey, jams, chutneys, and juices. For families, an enclosed playground is adjacent to the tea house terrace.

Plukjebloemen

flowers

utrecht

This garden is a destination for those interested in cultivating and picking their own flowers, emphasizing a colorful and biodiverse approach. It provides guidance and resources, including workshops and special kits, to help individuals design and grow their own vibrant cutting gardens, attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. The flowers available for self-picking or cultivation, suitable for creating beautiful bouquets, include a wide variety of both annuals and perennials. Among these are:

Bloemetje Geluk

flowers

overijssel

Bloemetje Geluk is a pick-your-own flower garden located in Stokkum, near Markelo, set amidst the tranquil natural beauty of Twente. This garden offers visitors the opportunity to personally select and gather their own floral arrangements from a wide variety of seasonal blooms. During spring, typically around mid-April, the garden features an extensive display of tulips and alliums, with over 10,000 different tulip bulbs available for picking. As summer progresses, from July through mid-October, the garden showcases a vibrant array of summer flowers, including dahlias, zinnias, lathyrus, cornflowers, dill, rudbeckia, and sunflowers, among many other colorful species. Expert guidance is provided to help visitors create their perfect bouquet.