Confession: It took me practically two weeks to unpack my suitcase from our first High quality Gardening tour in 2025. Not as a result of I’m a procrastinator (properly, I’m however not usually about unpacking), however as a result of every time I took one thing out of my bag, I discovered myself replaying a reminiscence from the journey. A small terra-cotta pot from a Bathtub potter that I bought at Particular Vegetation Nursery jogged my memory of the nursery proprietor, Derry Watkins, and discovering out she was initially from Connecticut, identical to me. The map of the gardens at Hauser & Wirth in Somerset designed by Dutchman Piet Oudolf recalled the scrumptious purple wine our group shared at a luncheon on-site. The conversations. The shared awe. The sensation that we weren’t simply seeing gardens, however understanding them in a deeper, extra significant approach.
So, once we started planning our 2026 tour to the Netherlands, I felt that very same spark return—solely this time, it got here with confidence. We had realized what labored, what stunned us, and what made the expertise really feel particular reasonably than scripted. And now, we get to construct on that success. Was it pulling that map out of my worse-for-wear suitcase that impressed the placement selection for our 2026 tour? We could by no means know!
One of many issues I’m most enthusiastic about this yr is welcoming Annie Guilfoyle again into the fold. Having Annie with us once more feels a bit like touring with a trusted information who additionally occurs to know everybody you’d actually need to meet. By her connections, we’ll be entering into personal gardens and design conversations that go far past the standard tour expertise—maybe most notably with Tom de Witte, whose private backyard is nothing in need of breathtaking. It’s layered, considerate, and deeply expressive, and I already comprehend it’s going to be a type of gardens folks speak about lengthy after we return house.
Then there’s Arjan Boekel’s Superbloom venture in Arnhem, which I can’t cease fascinated about. In my thoughts, this area is the Netherlands equal of Chicago’s Lurie Backyard, designed unsurprisingly by one other Dutch native, Piet Oudolf. Superbloom is a robust instance of what’s potential when creativity, persistence, and ecological pondering collide. Constructed on a former industrial web site and subjected to brutal circumstances—scorching solar, poor soil, hardscaping constraints—the panorama is vibrant, resilient, and energetic. I’m particularly wanting ahead to spending time with Arjan himself. His power is contagious, and listening to firsthand how he remodeled such a difficult web site into one thing so joyful will seemingly be a spotlight of the whole journey.
One other second I’m particularly wanting ahead to is our go to to the gardens of Mien Ruys. As a really groundbreaking feminine panorama architect, her affect reaches far past the Netherlands, shaping trendy backyard design world wide. Studying extra about her life and legacy—particularly alongside fellow gardeners—feels deeply significant to me. As a girl who has made horticulture her profession, standing in a spot created by somebody who helped pave that path can be a peak second, no query.
I additionally need to take a second to say thanks to Kristin Beane Sullivan from our sister publication, Backyard Gate. Kristin has led a backyard tour to the Netherlands earlier than, and her perception has been invaluable. Understanding what to embrace—and simply as importantly, what to keep away from—has helped us form this tour into one thing considerate, seamless, and really enriching. Her steering has made this expertise higher in methods each large and small.
And at last, I’m thrilled that High quality Gardening editor Carol Collins can be becoming a member of us on the journey. Having one other staffer alongside for the journey (a canal boat journey, on this case) provides an additional layer of enjoyable and camaraderie. There’s one thing particular about sharing these moments not simply with readers, however with colleagues who love gardens as a lot as I do.
This tour looks like a celebration—not simply of Dutch backyard design, however of curiosity, connection, and the enjoyment of studying collectively. I can’t wait to see the place these gardens take us subsequent.
Wanting ahead to seeing you there,Danielle
P.S. I’ve it on good authority the Netherlands is a little bit of a foodies’ paradise, too. In case you’re questioning what I’m most wanting ahead to attempting, the reply is easy: Bossche bol. It’s a big cream puff stuffed with whipped cream and lined in chocolate. Holy yum.
High quality Gardening Advisable Merchandise
Planting in a Put up-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes
High quality Gardening receives a fee for gadgets bought by way of hyperlinks on this web site, together with Amazon Associates and different affiliate promoting packages.
That includes attractive images and recommendation for landscapers, Planting in a Put up-Wild World by Thomas Rainer and Claudia West is devoted to the thought of a brand new nature—a hybrid of each the wild and the cultivated—that may nourish in our cities and suburbs.
Channel Hyperlink Rain Chain, 8.5 Ft, Pure Stable Copper
High quality Gardening receives a fee for gadgets bought by way of hyperlinks on this web site, together with Amazon Associates and different affiliate promoting packages.
Elevate Your Exterior: Substitute unpleasant gutter downspouts with this gorgeous rain chain. Benefit from the mesmerizing sights and soothing sounds of rain cascading gracefully down, including magnificence to any out of doors area. Distinctive Sturdiness: Crafted from pure copper, our rain chains for gutters are meticulously hand-assembled, promising a lifetime of basic magnificence and resilience. Set up in a Snap: No must be an knowledgeable. Simply swap your rain chains for downspouts utilizing the provided hanging hook. Our rain chains for out of doors are suitable with any customary gutter gap. Non-compulsory gutter installer offered individually. Unrestricted Water Circulate: The open-flow design of the gutter chain downspout permits water to effortlessly cascade down the chain with out concern of backing up, even by heavy rain. Dimensions: Cup: 1.25 inches broad, 2 inches tall, 8.5 ft lengthy, Cup rely: 25
