The spring flower season is at its peak, keeping Ted Kortekaas particularly busy. Recently, tulip picking gardens have sprung up in numerous cities across Europe and the US. While spring brings its own set of challenges, the Flower Parade is fast approaching.
© Ted Kortekaas
Tulip Picking Gardens US
Besides the tulip picking gardens in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, there were also two in the US: one in San Francisco and another in New York. Ted attended the event in San Francisco. "This annual event began about six years ago to promote Dutch tulips. Eventually, the city took over, and now we co-organize it from the Netherlands." He notes the high enthusiasm for tulips. "We started setting up the garden at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, and by 7:00, the first visitors were already waiting, even though we didn't open until 1:00 p.m. By around 4:30 p.m., all 80,000 tulips were gone, highlighting the tulip's popularity, even here."
In New York, the tulip picking garden featured 170,000 tulips and was entirely organized by the Netherlands. "All the tulips in the US picking gardens are locally grown from Dutch bulbs. The US is a significant market for flower bulbs, making this event an excellent promotional opportunity."
© Ted Kortekaas
Bulb Season
Last year, the grower dealt with a wet spring, but now the land is extremely dry, Ted explains. "Previously, we struggled with crop emergence due to excessive moisture. Currently, the bulbs are thriving, but some consistent rain would be greatly appreciated. We're irrigating as much as possible, which is manageable but requires extra energy and effort. That's the challenge with outdoor crops; you have little control over the weather." Meanwhile, autumn crops like gladioli and lilies are being planted in full force for a fall harvest.
© Ted Kortekaas
Flower Parade
The Flower Parade in the Bulb Region is set for next Saturday, and preparations are well underway. "Today, we begin gathering the flowers," Ted says. When asked about the number of flowers, he isn't sure of the exact count but knows the number of crates. "We use around 6,500 crates of flowers for the parade, which equates to 1,000 man-hours spent in the field to collect them. It's a demanding task over just a few days."
Hyacinths are the mainstay of the Flower Parade, and there are plenty available, according to Ted. "The weather has been favorable, allowing for quick progress. The same is true for the daffodils. I don't anticipate using tulips, as they bloom too late. But we'll manage just fine. It's shaping up to be another stunning Flower Parade!"
For more information:
Ted Kortekaas
Tel: 06 5114 5809