Thursday, March 11, 2010

Het Loo

I have to admit that I'm really stretching the limitations on my "H" for this week since technically het is the Dutch equivalent of "the", but I hope that Mrs. Matlock will see that my heart is in the right place and not think of me as a rule bending heathen.

Het Loo (3)

Het Loo Palace (Paleis Het Loo) was the residence of the royal family for nearly 300 years, and has now been restored into a museum and gardens for the public. You can't take pictures inside the palace itself, but check out this link to take a peek into one of the bedrooms.

The gardens of Het Loo are absolutely lovely though and you CAN take pictures out there!

Gardens at Het Loo (2)

This type of garden is called parterre, which is "an ornamental garden where beds and paths are arranged to form a pattern."
Immaculately trimmed scrolly hedges are surrounded by topiaries and different types of annuals and perennials which are also framed with hedges.

There are many statues and fountains throughout the gardens.

Gardens at Het Loo (8)

Gardens at Het Loo (3)

If you turn around and look back at the palace, you will see these lovely golden doors. How'd you like your back doors to look like that?!

Ornate doors on the Palace

Surrounding the garden is a massive moat of epic proportions. Okay, massive moat of epic proportions might be a bit of a hyperbole, but it sounds more impressive than "little wimpy ditch around the outer edges."

THE MOAT

A wide variety of plants go into the gardens so that they can be enjoyed year round.

Snapdragons in the garden at Het Loo

Gardens at Het Loo (4)

Gardens at Het Loo (6)

I'd really like to know where I can find seeds for an orange tree like this though!

Orange tree (2)

I should mention that Loo is pronounced more like "lo" (rhymes with "though") and not "loo" (rhymes with zoo). I know better, but I say it like "loo" and giggle because I'm immature and it sounds like what Brits call the toilet. *ahem*


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I'm participating in Mrs. Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday! Click the link below to see what other hopefully happy things people have posted about.

Jenny Matlock

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P.S. If you missed my new blog design reveal post, go back and check it out! I'm giving away a customized sock monkey to one lucky person.

20 comments:

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

I love that golden swan, but what' up with it's neck? Thanks for the word "parterre", I didn't know that!

Unknown said...

the gardens are beautiful...the maze and hedges are so wonderful and I did think it was pronounced loo"......now I know better....have a Happy week! Melinda

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

What a gorgeous place and photos!

Stopping by from Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.
And your "H" post is perfect...haha...I am sure that she sees your "H"eart was in the right place.

Blessings & Aloha!

(ooh yes...you have some yummy looking recipes here too!)

My name is Riet said...

We did live in Apeldoorn many years ago but I nver saw the palace and the gardens. We must go there one day.

4 Lettre Words said...

For your information...my back doors look just like that! LOL

The gardens are truly amazing. Wow!

Amy said...

I love your blog! I am so jealous of the things you get to see. Where I live all you see is trash. Yep, Philadelphia is a dirty city. Your recipes look very yummy!

Anita said...

Excellent selection of photos. I do not remember seeing the gardens when I was there though (it was not spring). The palace interiors are tacky and exagerated.

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

Beautiful photos. Hey, what's wrong with being a rule bending heathen? I've made a career out of it....

brainella said...

Wow...this reminds me A LOT of Versailles, which was absolutely amazing. I love wandering around places like this. Your pictures are fantastic. Oh, and my bedroom is pretty much like that too -- just wanted you to know. :)

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

Wow! Those pictures are gorgeous!!

Happy SITS fest!

Raymonde said...

Such a beautiful place to take your pictures! My favorite is the second one!
Just popped over from SITS!
Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
Have a beautiful Saturday and a blessed Sunday!
Come and visit, I don't bite ;)

Main blog: Every day I walk with You...

Connie said...

Love the photos! I always learn so much from your posts! Thanks for sharing!!
Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend! It's rainy here in Mississippi. We're hoping for nicer weather really soon!!
Take care!!

AbigailsCrafts said...

Those doors are incredible! Intrigued by the orange tree - is it a real tree that's naturally that colour? Spraypainted? or a sculpture of a tree?

Thanks for sharing your photos!

baukje said...

Wat een mooie rapportage over het Loo. Ik ben er nooit geweest maar de tuinen lijken me alleen al de moeite waard, ben verder niet zo koningsgezind.......

jeff campbell said...

Lovely post, the gardens are amazing! thanks for stopping by my post, that little bendy thing ( love how you describe it, I teach young children and we say stuff like that all the time) is called a job, it turns in all directions and you can wrap it around anything for a stable shot. I got it for his Christmas present. Just google it!

Steph said...

Great writing and amazing photos. Thank you for this tour (i especially love the garden). I'm so glad you went with "the" (Het). Your new blog design looks great too. So pastel-y and fun!

gramma2many said...

Just wanted to stop by and say thanks for coming to visit me on Monday. I will have to come back to read more of your adventures on a later day. I would love to be free to wander without escort through that castle. You know, to look into every closet and hidey hole. Wouldn't it be great fun?

Jo said...

those were stunning photos ... those gardens look amazing!

Jenny said...

Well...hmphhh...at first I was tempted to think of you as a "rule bending heathen" (that made me laugh!) but then I came to the lovely photos inclding the parterre and all was forgiven. Should you find seeds for the orange tree I would also love some...although I suspect the seeds might vaguely resemble many cans of spraypaint!

Wonderful H post!

A+

Tumbleweed Trails said...

Thanks for sharing all of the beautiful photos. I'd love to have just a tad bit of my yard looking so gorgeous.
Jody
visionquest2020 AT msn DOT com

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