phlox

Oh, the sheer delight of a day spent on a Dutch farm, clippers in hand, surrounded by a riot of colour! While tulips often steal the spotlight, there’s another star waiting to be discovered and lovingly gathered by your own hands: Phlox!

Imagine wandering through rows upon rows of these magnificent blooms, their velvety petals displaying every shade from pure white and delicate pink to fiery magenta and deep, mysterious purple. The air is crisp, perhaps with a hint of earthy sweetness, and the only sound is the gentle snip-snip of your clippers and the happy chatter of fellow pickers. Whether you’re a solitary soul seeking a moment of floral meditation, or on a grand adventure with friends and family, picking phlox is an experience that truly blooms with joy. Kids especially love the treasure hunt of finding the “perfect” stem, their little faces lighting up with each vibrant discovery. It’s not just about collecting flowers; it’s about soaking in the simple pleasures, creating beautiful memories, and bringing a piece of that tranquil Dutch countryside charm right back home with you.

Bringing Your Phlox Home: More Than Just a Pretty Face!

Once you’ve carefully transported your colourful bounty, the fun doesn’t stop there. Phlox is surprisingly versatile and can brighten your home in more ways than one!

For Dazzling Decoration:

Phlox is an absolute superstar in a vase. Its sturdy stems and abundant flower clusters make for show-stopping arrangements.

Vibrant Bouquets: Arrange a generous bunch in a tall vase for a dramatic statement on your dining table. Mix and match different colours for a wild, “just-picked-from-the-meadow” look, or choose a single hue for elegant simplicity.
Tiny Tabletop Treats: Snip a few smaller sprigs and place them in bud vases or repurposed jam jars to scatter around your home – on a bookshelf, a bedside table, or your bathroom vanity for a burst of cheer.
Doorstep Welcome: A small bouquet placed by your front door in a rustic jug offers a lovely, welcoming touch.
Gift of Glee: A hand-picked bouquet of phlox, tied with a simple ribbon, makes a heartfelt and beautiful gift for a neighbour or friend.

Beyond Beauty: Edible Phlox!

Here’s a delightful secret: many varieties of Phlox, especially the popular Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata), are edible! Their petals offer a mild, slightly peppery, sometimes sweet, or even clove-like flavour that can add a gourmet touch to your culinary creations.

Important Note: Always confirm with the farm that the specific phlox you are picking is an edible variety and has been grown without pesticides or harmful chemicals. Only consume flowers you are certain are safe.

For a Soothing Sip: Phlox Petal Infusion

Fancy a unique, floral tea that’s as lovely to look at as it is to drink?

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh, clean, pesticide-free phlox petals (gently separate from the green calyx)
1 cup hot water (just off the boil)
Optional: a thin slice of lemon, a few mint leaves, or a drizzle of honey to taste

Instructions:

Gently rinse the phlox petals under cool water and pat dry.
Place the petals in a heat-proof mug or teapot.
Pour the hot water over the petals.
Steep for 5-7 minutes, or until the tea reaches your desired strength and aroma.
Strain out the petals (or leave them in for visual appeal!).
Add your optional lemon, mint, or honey if desired, and enjoy this calming, subtly fragrant infusion. It’s like sipping a sunny garden!

For a Refreshing Tipple: Phloxy Fizz Cocktail

Add a touch of floral elegance to your next happy hour! The peppery notes of phlox pair wonderfully with gin.

Ingredients:

2 oz Gin
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
0.75 oz Simple Syrup (made by dissolving equal parts sugar in hot water, then cooling)
1/4 cup fresh phlox petals (plus a few extra for garnish)
Club Soda, to top
Ice

Instructions:

In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle about 1/4 cup of phlox petals with the simple syrup. You want to bruise them just enough to release their flavour without pulverizing them.
Add the gin, fresh lemon juice, and a handful of ice to the shaker.
Shake well for about 15-20 seconds until the shaker is thoroughly chilled.
Strain the mixture into a tall glass filled with fresh ice (you can double strain if you want to remove all petal bits, but a few specks add charm!).
Top with refreshing club soda.
Garnish with a few fresh phlox petals and perhaps a lemon twist. Cheers to a taste of the garden!

So, the next time you’re exploring the delightful “pluktuinen” (picking gardens) of the Netherlands, don’t walk past the humble yet magnificent phlox. Pick a bouquet, brew a tea, or shake up a cocktail – you’ll be amazed at the pleasure and fun this charming flower brings! Happy picking, and happy phlox-ing!

Tuinderij De Groenteboer Biologische zelfoogsttuin

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries

utrecht

Tuinderij De Groenteboer is an organic self-picking farm and flower garden located in Kamerik, near Woerden, on the grounds of Boerderij De Boerinn. The farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, where participants become ‘shareholders’ to harvest their own produce. The self-picking garden offers approximately 60 different varieties of seasonal organic vegetables, herbs, and small fruits. Throughout the year, visitors can harvest a diverse range of produce: Spring: Spinach, broad beans, snap peas, turnip greens. Summer: Carrots, beets, broccoli, strawberries. Autumn: Parsnip, pumpkin. Winter: Kale, leek. Example weekly harvests might include items like celeriac, lettuce, endive, fennel, New Zealand spinach, and potatoes. Vegetable harvesting is available for approximately 32 weeks, typically from May to December. Adjacent to the vegetable plots, a vibrant organic flower picking garden is open from June to mid-September. Here, visitors can create their own bouquets from a wide array of blooms, including phlox, cornflower, sunflower, rudbeckia, zinnia, aster, poppy, delphinium, snapdragon, strawflower, cosmea, and amaranth (foxtail). Shareholders have weekly access to the flower garden, and non-shareholders can also purchase passes for flower picking.

Hanna's Pluktuin

flowers, herbs, grasses

friesland

Hanna’s Pluktuin is a family-run, sustainable pick-your-own flower garden located in Makkinga, Friesland, Netherlands, at Bercoperweg 53 B, 8423 TR Makkinga. Established in 2023 and expanded in 2024 by Hanna Lemmens-Edema and her family, the garden invites visitors to enjoy a unique outing among meadows. The primary offering is the opportunity for guests to self-pick seasonal flowers. Upon arrival, visitors receive instructions, a pair of scissors, and a bucket, then proceed to select and cut their own bouquet. Bouquets start from €10, with the final price dependent on the type and quantity of flowers chosen.

De Boschhoeve

flowers, herbs, grasses

gelderland

De Boschhoeve is a delightful nursery, garden, and tea house nestled amidst agricultural fields and mature trees in Wolfheze, near Arnhem. The property features a large and varied farm garden, showcasing vibrant summer and autumn borders, a tranquil shady lane, and an orchard bursting with spring bulbs. A notable highlight is the decorative vegetable garden, where unique vegetables are artfully combined with various flowers, including many summer bulbs. The nursery offers a wide assortment of robust and easy-to-care-for plants, specializing in diverse snowdrop varieties, dahlias, peonies, and spring bulbs. Visitors can observe plants in their full glory in the dedicated mother plant beds. The farm also encompasses a large agricultural barn, which houses a garden shop selling seeds, tools, and gardening accessories, a cozy tea house offering refreshments, and a brocante section with antique and second-hand goods. Throughout the year, De Boschhoeve hosts various events and workshops, with the annual Snowdrop Festival being a particular draw.

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: