In
One of the most charming cities with a unique garden appeal I have visited is 
Despite the fact that they traded in earth for water, many of the houseboat dwellers still have gardens. Visitors to the city can tour the canals in well-narrated tours. But the narrative is just noise when you start snapping photos of all the picturesque waterways and the homes.
Not a few of the houseboat dwellers had converted portions of their decks into tiny but traditional gardens by carting in loads of dirt to create a replacement allotment. Most, however, were container gardens. Beautification of their aging vessels seemed to be important to many, as containers of geraniums, daisies and, of course, tulips were abundant.
Many of the houseboat dwellers had productive pots of tomatoes and herbs. Some of the canal dwellers just seemed to be giving their houseplants a good airing.
For me, it was a lesson in “make blooms where you are planted.” Regardless of how humble your abode or challenging your growing circumstances, create a bit of beauty to brighten your day and the day of those who see your home.
I certainly wish more of our American suburbs and small towns would take the lessons of our European cousins. A bit of greenery and flowers is not just beautifying. It sends the message that someone cares about the place where they go at night and raise their families.
Hi! I'm Robin Ripley author of Wisdom for Home Preservers, published by Taunton Press. I am also co-author of Grocery Gardening. Bumblebee is about my life in rural Maryland, my garden and my love of food, my little dogs and pet chickens. You can follow me on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you for visiting!
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I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Tina Russell
Robin, I love your new theme. Thanks for the boat trip to Amsterdam. I really enjoyed seeing their gardens.~~Dee
Ah, glad you like the new look! I am accustomed to changing pretty frequently, so I hope my “like” of this one sticks!
Robin at Bumblebee
I agree with you. I loved the days in my grandmas neighborhood where gardens came in all shapes and sizes. Everyone had one. My grandmother had a mint patch that I loved to raid. It is just welcoming and we tend to be an offish bunch in our business. I would like to see front porches come back and am designing my whole house around that 50 style. I miss the good old days.
Perhaps as gardeners we should start some sort of movement…if only we had time…
Robin at Bumblebee
Very interesting trip to Amsterdam 🙂 I was there once and I agree it is very welcoming – only weed approach is something dificult to accept and understand 🙂
Hi Ewa,
There is a house that I pass that was built last summer during a terrible drought here. The new owners completely neglected the only plants that the builder did put in and everything was dead, dead, dead by the end of summer. What were they thinking? That the plants would water themselves?
Robin at Bumblebee
Thanks for a lovely tour of the gardens on houseboats in Amsterdam. The Europeans do seem to generally have more desire for gardens in their lives. How creative the containers look lined up wherever there is a space.
Frances at Faire Garden
Yes, even the most humble places look cared for with some flowers, don’t they?
Robin at Bumblebee
Thank you so much for the lovely boat ride through the canals of Amsterdam. I felt like I was really there . . . and it was warm . . .
Robin, What a beautiful trip you have taken us on. We are not well travelled at all, but I have hopes. We did live and work in Bejing for two years and the garden principles there are so different. I gained a whole new appreciation for stone and water. And reflections that I never noticed in my own Frog Pond.
Beautiful photographs
What a nice trip through gardens. I have to disagree about the Amsterdam boat tours, though. The tour boats have (and need) very powerful engines, which are powered by exceedingly noisy, smelly (and polluting) diesel engines. They now have some electric tour boats. Let’s hope these will replace all the diesels.
Those were nice pictures! When were you in Amsterdam? You were probably close by my house when you took this boat trip.
Amsterdam is a great city to walk around and travel by boat. I keep telling myself I need to post more pictures of the neighborhood.
There was a time when the boat tours had a real person talking during the trip, now it’s just a scratchy recording of someone with really bad English.
Hi Patrick,
I was in Amsterdam in September 2005. I was there on business that lasted just a day and a half, but the client footed the bill for a whole week. Sweet! I keep trying to get similar assignments, but so far no go.
I, for one, would love to see more photos of Amsterdam. There are wonderful pockets of green everywhere.
Robin at Bumblebee