Meet Hans Vissers - Botanist ExtraordinaireWe live deep-deep in the Italian countryside hundreds of kilometers away from Holland - so how did a kooky Botanist from Amsterdam help our garden grow?? Last winter while living in Amsterdam, one snowy day, we visited the Botanical Gardens for fun -little did we know that Hans would single handily donate over 100 diverse species of flowers, fruits and vegetables to our organic farm/ garden 1500 km away! From heirloom allium to exotic basil and beans - Hans Visser of the VU Botanical Gardens in Amsterdam has graciously colored our property pretty!
Queens Orange - Lathryus beans and climbing vine
Spice Boys - Thai Basil
Hans is passionate, enthusiastic and educational - it is an absolute pleasure to have him personally guide you about the gardens - hours later your filled with sweet smells and an urge to help this garden stay alive and share its beauty with others. Upon hearing our story and what were are growing in our garden & farm, he lite up - even more animated than before and started loading us up with seeds, starters, growing tips and more to bring back to Italy.
Painted Lady climbing vines
After years of collecting rare seeds through the university, he is now donating them to us (and others around the world) - thus ensuring that they continue to grow, reseed and spread bringing new life to our garden and others for years to come.
Sadly, the Hortus Botanicus of VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is threatened with closure by the University’s Executive Board due to new construction planned at the school. (Read more here)
The VU Hortus houses a very rich plant collection with more than 6.000 species. This small but charming botanical garden contains a greenhouse complex with various climates, under which a tropical greenhouse, a sub-tropical greenhouse, an orangerie and many more greenhouses. The exceptional cactus and succulent greenhouse is the largest collection in The Netherlands.
Help Save Amsterdam's Botanical Garden and join us by SIGNING the online petition.
Queens Orange - Lathryus beans and climbing vine
Spice Boys - Thai BasilHans is passionate, enthusiastic and educational - it is an absolute pleasure to have him personally guide you about the gardens - hours later your filled with sweet smells and an urge to help this garden stay alive and share its beauty with others. Upon hearing our story and what were are growing in our garden & farm, he lite up - even more animated than before and started loading us up with seeds, starters, growing tips and more to bring back to Italy.
Painted Lady climbing vinesAfter years of collecting rare seeds through the university, he is now donating them to us (and others around the world) - thus ensuring that they continue to grow, reseed and spread bringing new life to our garden and others for years to come.
Sadly, the Hortus Botanicus of VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands, is threatened with closure by the University’s Executive Board due to new construction planned at the school. (Read more here)
The VU Hortus houses a very rich plant collection with more than 6.000 species. This small but charming botanical garden contains a greenhouse complex with various climates, under which a tropical greenhouse, a sub-tropical greenhouse, an orangerie and many more greenhouses. The exceptional cactus and succulent greenhouse is the largest collection in The Netherlands. Through the 40 years of its existence the VU Hortus has built up a large collection of plants, trees and shrubs with natural-historical value. It is open to the public throughout the year, without entrance fee. In summer, from May till October, even on Saturdays.
Help Save Amsterdam's Botanical Garden and join us by SIGNING the online petition.
Photos of our patio, pool and garden with flowers from the VU
Hi, I´m brazilian and would like to say only this:
ReplyDeleteWho knows Hans Vissers, learns for all life how is important be a good person. Because he is intelligent, generous, talented and if the Hortus is what it is today, all this is because there is one person there. He makes friends with his wisdom and kindness. And that the world needs to much work not only with plants, nature, but with people. People need to like his generosity. Share knowledge.
He was never selfish, because the plants are not selfish. Nature is generous. And God did so Hans and he is following his calling.
Do not let the Hortus is closed, please.
Congratulations Hans. I love you and it's a blessing to have you as a friend.
Ida Terron- arquiteta paisagista -
Nas
Quatro Estações
That's much encouraging and must be adopted by all homes and hotels so safe vegetables are served for good health and food practices.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Amoah.
Great story and a wonderful man. I hope he can save the organization.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story, I sighned the petition. I am going to learn about a couple of these plants. The beans are so beautiful! Thank you, love your blog.
ReplyDeleteHaving recently experienced the garden we are so happy to know how these plants came to be in such a beautifull part of italy.we are thankfull for Hans generosity and Jason & Ashley's love of their venture
ReplyDeletenice guide! thank you!/I love it ! Very creative ! That's actually really cool Thanks.
ReplyDeleteOrganic Gardens