Miscellany from Amsterdam
>> Friday, September 18, 2015 –
travel
For the third year in a row I spent a September week in Amsterdam. Since I was there for work I didn't bring my good camera, and only snapped shots of things that interested me. Nothing of the city itself, mainly plant and garden related subjects.
It was so nice to see bamboo (Fargesias always) planted in pots everywhere. I'd see a few every day, regardless of where we went. Interestingly, none of these clumping bamboos were planted in the parks for some reason. The image above shows two other prevalent features of Amsterdam: bikes and the tram.
(Hmmm, I just looked and it seems that I never posted much about my trips to this city before, so I think I should put something together from the photos I took the previous two years. There's a little bit of that in this post from 2013. Today though, pretty much just random images.)
My wife and I did a lot of walking around neighborhoods and parks during the times I was not working, as you'll see from the shots below.
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| Flying into Detroit for our overseas connection |
This large flowering plant appeared to be growing as a weed in some of the parks:
Does anybody know what it is?
The bees were loving the blooms! Although I couldn't get a clear photo with my phone -- they were moving much too quickly -- hopefully you can see the difference...
...the bees were shaggy and more colorful than those I'm used too in my own garden. Rusty instead of yellowish. Nice!
Benches...
...and bakeries:
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| Dawn Redwoods I believe? |
How long does a Euphorbia like this need to go unwatered before it dies? Six months? A year?
Tram 12 near the convention center gives you this alternative to tradeshow bustle:
That was most likely my final visit to Amsterdam. If ever visit I recommend getting out of the tourist areas once in a while -- you'll see so much more of this exciting city!
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The flowering plant is Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) a very invasive species in the Netherlands.
It seems everybody's been traveling lately! I've only been to Amsterdam airport, not the city proper, so it was nice to get a few glimpses. Would love to see more!
Stefan: I had a feeling it was an invasive. It's not as prevalent as that one grass that seems to be taking over most of the park wetlands though.
Gerhard: I'll work on it. :)
I love balsam. I have the kind that grows on an upright stem. The seed packet stated miniature impatiens. When the hanging basket plants didn't quite hang, I knew something is amiss. The seeds pods pop open like an impatien plant. The colors are white to a bright salmon. Those flowers aren't as frilly as the ones in your photo.
That must have been fun, looking around a place so different from home. Lots and lots of bicycles, eh? Perhaps you and your wife will get back there for a vacation someday.
I remember flying into Detroit, and seeing a badger running in the grass along the runway.
Your photos are amazing...I ride my bike everywhere so I really enjoy a city that is so focused on using bikes to eliminate car traffic.
Maywyn: Balsam looked quite nice to me -- too bad it's invasive there (as Stefan said).
Hoover and Charlie: You can't imagine the bicycle traffic, and how different it is from US bikers. It's rare to see a helmet there, and people do all sorts of things while riding, including reading books and looking at their phones. Really great and crazy!
Cool images of your trip! How exciting to have been able to visit more than once. Hope you had a great time!
Alan: Himalayan balsam is a plant with two sides.
Its dark side is that it's able to invade river and stream banks and out competes native flora. But, is only able to do so because the majority of those habitats have to much nutrients due to human activities (mostly farming practices). If those habitats have less nutrients the Himalayan balsam grows in less numbers or even completely disappears.
Its good side is that it blooms well into autumn and by doing so is providing the needed extra energy for pollinators. This long blooming season is also why bee keepers really like it. Not only bee keepers like it I do to because the make really lovely honey out of its nectar :)