Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-31
10 Million Bulbs in Park.
Show Off Dutch TULIPS

tulips do exiSt-"La Tulipe Noire"
(Which is very dark brown and
the Queen of Night" and king
Harold" which are still darker
The colorful magic of the
Dutch bulbfieldS is. of course, not
primarily intended as an attrac-
ton for tourists. This fairy-like
land of flowers has a very busi-
ness like background, for the
bulbs in flower yield new blubs
that find their way to all parts
of the world
Tulip Park Developed
The extensive open fields are
not the proper place for bulb
flowers but house, park and gar
den, where they adorn their i'm
mediate surrounding. In former
years, however, it was impossible
to let the hundreds Of thousands
of Dutch and foreign visitors see
the bulbs laid out in parks and
gardens in the bulb growing
region itself.
But now the position is diff
ferent. A special exhibition has
been organized in an excep-
tionally appropriate setting, part
of the 300-acre Keukenhof Es-
tate at Lisse. The Keukenhof is
a remnant of an ancient forest
preserved almost in its original
state, with centuries-old trees,
dense underground and marshes.
In the early 18th century these
woods were the favorite hunting
ground of the Countess Jacoba
van Beieren tJacqueline of Ba-
varia). a ruler of Holland re-
inowned for the part she played
in one of the many long conflicts
which rent the country in the
Middle Ages. When she was
banished to the nearby Castle of
Teylingen along with her last
husband, Frank van Borselen,
the kitchens of that castle were
Supplied with game from the
woods-hence the name "Keu-
Ikenhof."
75-Acre Park
OF this unspoiled woodland,
rs acres have now been trans
formed into a magnificent park.
Some of the underground and a
few dead trees have been cleared
away here and there. some of
the marshy spots have been
drained and converted into
lawns. early Towering shrubs
have been placed in certain open
spaces, and a number of the
leading bulb growers jointly
planted no less than 10 million
bulbs in over 500 varieties.
The Keukenhof has become an
ideal park full of flowers and
blossoms and fresh. green TO-
liage. There are eight miles of
paths along which visitors can
wander. and on top Of a gentle
slope stands a restaurant with
spacious terraces affording a
wonderful view of the exhibition
grounds.
For the first time in five CEN
turtles. Countess Jacoba and
Frank van Borselen have re-
visited their ruined homes by
impersonation. Last year they
rode from Teylingen to Keuken-
hof. accompanied by so noble
lords and ladies. with their
retinue Of huntSmen and at
PENDANTS. There was even a page
carrying a live falcon-but On
this occasion there was no
hunting. for many years have
passed since game was last
caught in the "Keukenhof."
Vehicles of Flowers
Thousands of visitors, includ-
ing many members of the Dip
lomatic corps. were interested
onlookers at this scene of medic
val pageantry. The countess and
her courtiers also took part in
"a great floral procession. Some
so vehicles decorated with gi-
gantic masses of narcissi, hya-
cinths and tulips, made up this
procession.
Features Of the procession in
cluded dragons, shoes and even
paintings composed entirely of
flowers. There were also flower