Poignant Return to the World's Most Beautiful Easter Garden

Lea Lane

Location: Florida, USA
Birthday: August 26

Title: freelance writer/editor

Bio: “I’ve discovered the secret of life,” Kay Thompson, the eccentric entertainer and “Eloise” author, once said. “A lot of hard work, a lot of sense of humor, a lot of joy and a lot of tra-la-la!” And that's been my life: As a travel writer for over 30 years, I've been around the block (more like around the world), and I write true stories about interesting people and places. I've lived an unconventional life in conventional trappings. Been a corporate VP, worked with foster kids, acted in an Indie ("Nurse 1"), was on Jeopardy!. I've been managing editor of a travel publication, written for the Times, and authored books. OS is my home, but I also blog on The Huffington Post, and I've contributed (mostly anonymously) to everything from encyclopedias to guidebooks. Married young, divorced late; married late, widowed early, I dated lots in-between -- and survived a scary illness. After being happily, peacefully solo for many years, I'm now happily married again. I founded and still edit www.sololady.com, a lifestyle Website for single women. I'm truly grateful for each precious day, each well-earned wrinkle, my family, my cat. Truth, laughter, friendship, late love. And this blog -- on this wonderful site!

MY RECENT POSTS

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Lea Lane's Links

LINKS: -MY SON'S MEMOIR, THE ZEROES, Now in Paperback; -CLICK HERE TO AID FAMINE VICTIMS IN SOMOLIA; -MY WEBSITE FOR SOLO WOMEN
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Favorite PEOPLE posts: -The Reality of Ramona; -Happy First Anniversary, Love; -Messages from the Donald; -The Bellman With Tourettes; -Elvis Trivia; -The Woman Who Slept with Rohairmoo; -Chelsea Clinton & Moi; -What Fay Vincent Told Me about Steinbrenner; -Why I Didn't Love Daddy; -A Play Connects to Famous People I've Known; -Remembering Rue McClanahan; -My Son Just Married Me!; -Rick Died & I Was There for Him; -For Nathan, Who Was only Two; -Unexpected Lovers at Passover; -Six Degrees of Separation; -Porn King, Coke Prez, Murderer; -My 2000 NYT Interview; -My Man in Rio; -You Caught Me, I'm in Love; -Dumped By Answering Machine; -My Best Friend Ended Her Life at 37; -to lea at 17; -Phyllis Schlafly Drooled on Me; -Best in Show? Not This Lover; -The Man Who Met Einstein; -The Sahalis: Symbol of a Decade?; -To My Sister, On a Big Birthday; -My Birthday/Blogiversary; -Mad Men: When My Bosses Were My Lovers; -Julia (and Other Famed Chefs); -A Nice Jewish Girl Named for a Racetrack; -A Conehead at the Fair: A Summer Tale; -Anne Frank Would Have Been 80; -Did I Really Just Tell You That?; -Becoming Invisible; -Elizabeth Edwards, Joan Rivers: Two Moms; -My Surprising Talk With a Naked Actor; -Why I'm Alone; -Kate Winslet and Other (Drama) Queens; -My Valentine Lover, 2006; -My Life in 100 Words; -One Snowy Dud, One Sexy Stud; -My Gender Bender, Victor-Victoria Cruise; -How I Wound Up in Claus Von Bulow's Apartment; -To Odetta; -My Late-in-Life Love; -An Ugly Duckling OS Tale; -To My Neighbor Hillary; -OJ: You're Finally Juiced; -On Being Single; -Wisdom from a Hooker; -The Seeing-Eye man; -Two Weddings and a Funeral; -Ted Kennedy's Brave Fight, and My Husband's; -Dinner with Hill and Bill; -The Abuser
Favorite PLACES posts: -Four-Part Antarctica Series; -Keukenhof garden, Amsterdam; -Belgian Spring; -Mugged in Stockholm; -A Life Along I-95; -A Magic Invite to Firenze; -On New Zealand's Milford sound; -Honeymoon Blip on the Black Sea; -Eat, Pray, Scratch in Bali; -Americana: Mohonk Then & Now; -Scary Journey on the Norwegian Ferry; -The World's Most Colorful Neighborhood; -The Magical Slot Canyon; -The Other Ground Zero; -India Life Lessons; -Wild Dogs in Romania; -Flutterbies in the Amazon, & Leo; -Blue Lights in Barcelona; -Crossing the Atlantic; -Two Faraway Thanksgivings, & What I Learned; -Sabrina's Walk of Remembrance in NYC; -South Beach: Hot & Cool; -Watching Greenland Melt; -Carnaval in Colombia; -Alone on a Cliff; -An Irish Ramble; -Dramatic Polar Photos; -Argentina: Penguins, Penguins, Penguins!; -New York's High Line

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Editor’s Pick

APRIL 22, 2011 7:19AM

Rate: 59 Flag

get-attachment

One of my last vacations with my husband Chaim Stern, not long before he died of cancer ten years ago, was an April trip which included the Keukenhof gardens outside of Amsterdam.

This April, 2011, two weeks before Easter, I returned to these fabled gardens, walking along admiring the displays of flowering bulbs, taking photos as I strolled, giddy with the beauty.

I am remarried now, and in love again. But these gardens made me especially aware of my past love and of the preciousness of life.

Seasons change. Beauty fades. Life is short. Spring returns! Chag Pesach Sameach! Happy Easter!

I'll just let you enjoy the flowers as I did: lingering if you wish, and then moving along. The world may be difficult, but this natural beauty on a sunshiney spring day in Holland relieves even the deepest pain. I found peace and joy in remembering, amid the life-affirming natural splendor of Keukenhof gardens.

photo-33 serene

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Tulips, bought from Central Asia, were the revered flowers of the 17th century, and brought wealth to the Netherlands before the mania ended in a crash. Reality in beauty.

get-attachment-2 beckoning

get-attachment white water, white tulips, greening trees

photo-26 white swans, cobalt blue hyacinths

get-attachment teasing fringes

get-attachment cheerful little tulips

get-attachment marching rows of tulips

get-attachment tulip fields beyond Keukenhof, with the shadow of a windmill

photo-28 buds and blooms

get-attachment sylvan budding

photo-29 dancing in the breeze

get-attachment-1 love the little white one

get-attachment-1 vivid beds

get-attachment indigo, ferns and dew

photo-30 teasing

get-attachment-1 daffodils and swans

photo-24 flouncy

photo-25 edgy

photo-27 in the Keukenhof greenhouse

get-attachment fragrant hyacinths in spring sunshine

In loving remembrance

photo-32

Each of us has been given a life

And each day of it is a gift.

Those days are flowers we can plant along

Our way for our children to see.

If we do this, then some day,

Some blessed day, this world of ours will be a garden.

Let us make it so, for that is why we were born.

-- Chaim Stern

Author tags:

remembrance, chaim stern, easter, passover, travel, amsterdam, netherlands, holland, keukenhof gardens, tulips

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Comments

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Enjoy the peace and beauty!

Lea Lane

April 22, 2011 07:37 AM

That is a beautiful remembrance and a lovely tribute, Lea.
To you a Chag Pesach Sameach and a too Happy Easter!
Rated with love and in loving memory of Chaim.
♥R

FusunA

April 22, 2011 08:17 AM

What a beautiful, serene scene! You both were truly fortunate to be able to share that together. Thanks for sharing a bit of it with us.

Procopius

April 22, 2011 08:43 AM

Beautiful, the litte white one stole my heart. Peace to you Lea, what a marvelous tribute to Chaim and life.

rita shibr

April 22, 2011 08:46 AM

Thank you for this, Lea. The Keukenhof were on my bucket list, and I even looked at doing it this spring, but didn't have the heart to make that journey alone. In the end, northern Washington's tulips were my balm, but you have given me great joy by a virtual visit to someplace I have only gone in my dreams, the glorious kitchen gardens of that same Holland that you visited with your beloved and my beloved helped liberate a lifetime ago. May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace, and may the legacy your Chaim left live on through your enduring love.

Kathy Riordan

April 22, 2011 08:51 AM

Thank you for sharing the photos and words. The flowers are wonderful and your words give great respect to these two lucky men who have shared their life with you.

Liberal Southern Democrat

April 22, 2011 08:53 AM

Lea, this is beautiful in so many ways. I am especially touched that you have found such deep love in your life more than once. I think it says more about you than anything else could. Oh yes, the hyacinths? I'd like to just lie down in the middle of them... Ah that smell! ~r

Joan H.

April 22, 2011 09:11 AM

Thank you for starting my day off with such beauty!

lschmoopie

April 22, 2011 09:15 AM

Thank you for this. Pain and Beauty often go together. What a wonderful memory.

zanelle

April 22, 2011 09:21 AM

Ah, the glorious camera. Thanks for sharing this magic, Lea.

Matt Paust

April 22, 2011 09:42 AM

This was so beautiful, the pictures of flowers and the sentiment behind the post too. It means so much to read the words of your late husband, and to know that you have room in your heart for so much love, beauty and sharing. You have given us all a very grand spring gift, the remembrance of enduring love, the comfort and truth of new love and the garden of peace for Pesach and Easter....

SheilaTGTG55

April 22, 2011 09:51 AM

Thank you for sharing this very personal journey with us. The flowers were beautiful. R

Trudge164

April 22, 2011 10:00 AM

Incredibly beautiful photos and scenery. Thank you so much for letting us share it!

Satori1

April 22, 2011 10:00 AM

It's almost too much color to take in! But I can almost smell the blooms in those pictures. Thank you for sharing these images . . . I will carry them in my mind throughout the day . . .

Owl_Says_Who

April 22, 2011 10:06 AM

Beautiful!

Roger Fallihee

April 22, 2011 10:11 AM

I feel like I just walked through a fairy tale.

Beautiful.

Shalom, Lea.

consonantsandvowels

April 22, 2011 10:29 AM

ahh Lea this was so beautiful especially the last picture.
Congrats on the EP!!
rated with MEGA hugs today

Linda Seccaspina

April 22, 2011 10:34 AM

How can the mind take in so much beauty?!? What a lovely memory piece. What kind of camera do you use?

Lezlie

L in the Southeast

April 22, 2011 10:42 AM

This is what I picture when I think of Easter.

AndNowForSomethingCompletelyDifferent

April 22, 2011 10:42 AM

I feel like I just took a happy pill, Lea. This did me a world of good as I sit here in dreary Northeast Ohio. Thank you!

Lainey

April 22, 2011 10:45 AM

The benediction at the end just as beautiful as the gorgeous flowers. Thank you, Lea.

AtHomePilgrim

April 22, 2011 10:50 AM

Lovely in every way, and a wonderful tribute. And yes, would that we all plant flowers along this brief and dusty path we call life, and leave behind a garden of earthly delights.

Tom Cordle

April 22, 2011 10:52 AM

Thanks for another vicarious pleasure Lea, especially an illustrated one. It's been decade since I visited those gardens. Keep this up and you'll reawaken my travel bug.

Abrawang

April 22, 2011 10:53 AM

These photos make my heart sing, feed my soul and touch all my senses. Like Joan, I could lie down in those Hyacinths. When I smell them it is like liquid Spring. Like you I have found love for the second time after a loss like yours. Aren't we the most fortunate people? Happy Easter. -R-

Christine Geery

April 22, 2011 10:56 AM

Thanks. a one of many quirks of mine is ..
...
sometimes I jest Love accidently bumping. Aye.
I bumped into Tom Cordle etc., and feel Wiser.
Thanks. This downloads Truth/Honoring Life.
Thanks. Ay for 'his' etc., quote. Truth is Beauty.

Art James

April 22, 2011 11:02 AM

"Some blessed day, this world of ours will be a garden" - this post fills me up with light and hope. Every single photo was gorgeous. I am surprised by how much the tulip fields look like those of our local Skagit Valley. Beautiful! Happy Holidays Lea!

Sparking

April 22, 2011 11:07 AM

Thanks for the inspiring comments. (And L, hold on .. these were all taken on an iPhone4!)

Lea Lane

April 22, 2011 11:17 AM

Bittersweet.

Have a wonderful holiday.

D

denese

April 22, 2011 12:11 PM

Lovely Lea, as you are. What a rich and beautiful life you've had and continue to have, what a gift to share it with us. Thank you. xo

bbd

April 22, 2011 12:14 PM

each day of life is indeed a gift. your photos are amazing s is your spirit.

Chuck A. Stetson

April 22, 2011 12:15 PM

beautiful!

caroline marie

April 22, 2011 12:26 PM

Beautiful pictures! Am wondering about your use of the word "fabled" for this garden. What is the fable? Does it have anything to do with the tulip bulb being the first "bubble" to collapse, about 400 years ago? (For anyone interested, use "tulip mania" as a search term--the bulbs were being sold for as much as a year's wages apiece, until the prices suddenly plunged, leaving a lot of people very poor. I'm sure "insider trading" was going on even back then.)

SnippytheGrammarDog

April 22, 2011 12:33 PM

Oops, just saw your caption: "Tulips, bought from Central Asia, were the revered flowers of the 17th century, and brought wealth to the Netherlands."

Wealth for the first tier of pyramid scammers--poverty for those who bought in late. Doubtless it benefited the Dutch economy as a whole, but as always, the most vulnerable got the shaft. The rest of the story...

SnippytheGrammarDog

April 22, 2011 12:42 PM

Simply perfect. Thank you.

Chicago Guy

April 22, 2011 12:43 PM

You have taken my breath away with the beauty displayed here. What is it about flowers? Thank you so much for sharing this.

bluestocking babe

April 22, 2011 01:33 PM

Lea, this is the best place on Earth to see tulips! Your photos are so vibrant that they jump off my screen. My grandfather visited the gardens in '67 and I was impressed the first time I saw his slides. Thanks for posting this wonderful remembrance and photo essay!

designanator

April 22, 2011 01:38 PM

Nature in its beauty. Blessings on you and yours this season and always.

Stim

April 22, 2011 01:47 PM

What a wonderful gift, to share these images and your late husband's poem. Very healing and beautiful.

Spike The Chicken

April 22, 2011 01:47 PM

This is beautiful and poignant. I'm happy for you that were able to return there and thank you for sharing.

Razzle Dazzle

April 22, 2011 01:49 PM

If they cut down a few trees, added some sand, it would make a nice golf course.

Leepin Larry

April 22, 2011 03:23 PM

Just lovely, Lea...Chag Pesach Sameach! This is a beautiful tribute to Chaim...xox

Robin Sneed

April 22, 2011 04:32 PM

You are a stunning photographer as well as a chronicler...and one who lives life to the fullest.

Wow...just wow.

Nikki Stern

April 22, 2011 04:48 PM

Actually, some of those pictures don't look too far different than the Skagit Valley here in Washington. I absolutely lvoed the words of Chaim. What a great tribute.

trilogy

April 22, 2011 05:03 PM

This is stunning. And I love his poem. The last line made me teary.

Mimetalker

April 22, 2011 05:38 PM

This is almost too amazing to believe. Such beauty, such a spectacular setting. Only you would find such a way to pay loving tribute to beauty and love, past and present. Chag Pesach Sameach and Happy Easter!

Sally Swift

April 22, 2011 05:43 PM

loving, the memories and the blue hyacinths in particular. Peace, Lea. Beautiful post. RRRR

Amy A

April 22, 2011 05:53 PM

Very beautiful Lea, both the flowers and the tribute to Chaim. Smiling through some tears right now.

Kellylark

April 22, 2011 06:46 PM

Just gorgeous and a lovely tribute. Between you and bbd, how
lucky we are.

Scarlett Sumac

April 22, 2011 06:50 PM

Late but no less moved. The colors! The love of your dear husband passed...Beautiful!

Linnnn

April 22, 2011 07:46 PM

The colours!!!! Thank you.

Chrissie Pissie

April 22, 2011 08:00 PM

Oh, so very lovely. No tulips here. I heard about that garden; it was in the Botany of Desire movie too, which I just watched. Would love to go sometime. R

Sheba Marx

April 22, 2011 08:21 PM

Lovely Lea, this is so very lovely. Every petal, every vibrant color, every special emotion. You set the bar. xo

Cathy GF

April 22, 2011 10:22 PM

In a word.....wow! Thanks so much for sharing!

Ms.Makin'waves

April 22, 2011 10:30 PM

I long for gardens! That's why I have been writing about them!!
Beautiful pictures.
rated

Susie Lindau

April 22, 2011 10:59 PM

Thank you for graciously taking us along on this warmhearted reverie.

Monsieur Chariot

April 23, 2011 10:17 AM

Lea what a wonderful memorial. I have nothing to say since your own words and beautiful photos have said it all....Still.......rated

Rosycheeks

April 23, 2011 01:22 PM

Superb photos and such a lovely ending, it brought tears to my eyes.

Angelkisses

April 23, 2011 01:38 PM

chaim was a wife man, lea. i know that from his words and his choice of wife. and this piece is glorious and a little melancholy for all that. happy passover, friend. i'm glad you went back and saw it again with your new eyes.

femme forte aka candace

April 23, 2011 07:47 PM

Got lost in these pics for quite a while. Outstanding!

jimmymac1025

April 24, 2011 01:48 AM

Thanks for reminding me, after days of reading news sites, that I can still see in color!

Retablo

April 24, 2011 02:43 AM

This is really nice. I'm beginning to like Open Salon better than the main site.

John Hamilton

April 24, 2011 11:16 AM

I did enjoy the beauty, and I felt the peace. Happy Easter to you!

Bellwether Vance

April 24, 2011 08:03 PM

Oh my. If that isn't the most beautiful, it's certainly a contender.

Major Mojo

April 25, 2011 03:22 AM

scrumptious colors. makes me want to go outside and fall face first into the mud begging the little devils to rise, rise, RISE please and bless me from the dirt. Maine is still mud binding the tulips, but their day will come, as will the anemones, hyacinths and all their friends. Thanks for this hope for that.

Robin Robinson

April 25, 2011 08:30 AM

Lea,
My husband and I work together as gardeners and landscapers. We love working together, never fight about it and revel in the glory that is earth and what she pushes out of the ground, often with our help. I associate many flowers with things he and i have done together.
I love my husband in the deepest, fullest way. He is my dearest, most trusted friend, and I'm lucky enough to have lots of great friends. But, he's the number one bestest. He is, however, ten years old than I am. We are in our fifth and sixth decades, repsectively. So, in all likelihood, I will one day be without him. Lets' hope not, but realistically............And I know that should that be the case, I, too will have acres of memories, quite literally, of the love and life we had together. Thank you for this post, and congrats on the Ed. Pick. I'm sure Chaim smiles down upon you.

Robin Robinson

April 25, 2011 08:38 AM

Lea - these pictures are so beautiful. So are your words. And such a great reminder to embrace the beauty of life - and each moment before us. Thank you!