Roots

Tree roots have always had a fascinating impact on me, I can always see animal shapes or wild hands trying to get a grip on soil... They are also a fantastic playground for kids and a nice place for animals to hide!

The wonderful Japanese garden

Don't miss the temporarily open Japanese garden in Clingendael. It can still be visited until 8th June. The garden was placed on the list of national historical monuments in 2001.
The Hague websites explains that "the Japanese Garden was created in the beginning of the 20th century by the former owner of the country estate of Clingendael, Marguérite M. Baroness van Brienen (1871-1939), also called Lady Daisy. Lady Daisy sailed off a number of times by ship to Japan and brought back to the Netherlands a number of lanterns, a water cask, sculptures, the pavilion, the little bridges and several plants. The original design with the serene pond, meandering brook and the winding pathways has remained intact all these years".

The garden is not big, but the entrance is free and if you can get before the crowds come in, you'll have a wonderful experience!

What's up doc?

Isn't it nice to be able to pass by geese while walking in the park? This one was quietly following me, chewing its grass, and looking right into my camera.

By the way, if you want to enjoy Bugs Bunny in the original What's up doc? scenes, click here!

The Hague Daily Photo is taking one week off. See you next Friday!

Reflection

Just a nice reflection of trees in water in my favorite park in Clingendael. I can,t wait for the temporary Japanese garden to open at the end of this month to show you more natural beauty.

Handy bike (2)

The only nice spring day of the week! I couldn't help talking this photo of this "bakfiets" again as I found the setting very colorful. Though those bikes are wonderful to carry more than one kiddy, they remain very expensive as they can easily top €1,500 depending on the brand and the options fitted on the bike...More photos of this kind of bike here.

Tree inscriptions

Walking in Clingendael again, I passed by this tree which had indecipherable inscriptions carved in its bark. One was clearly 1970, hence dating back some years already! Funny enough, I only noticed it on one tree.....Maybe it is very special!!!

Month theme day : Bridges

This view is taken in my favourite park in The Hague, Clingendael. Not sure whether the tree was put there intentionally, but it works well for this month theme!!!

Take the time to visit any of the following cities participating in December's month theme:
Boston (MA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Inverness (IL), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Stockholm, Sweden - Setúbal, Portugal - Brussels, Belgium - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Hyde, UK - Manila, Philippines - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - London, England - Austin (TX), USA - Toulouse, France - Weston (FL), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Selma (AL), USA - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - North Bay (ON), Canada - Arradon, France - Paderborn, Germany - Durban, South Africa - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Portland (OR), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Wichita (Ks), USA - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Grenoble, France - New York City (NY), USA - Nottingham, UK - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Arlington (VA), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Cheltenham, UK - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Saratoga Spgs. (NY), USA - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Nashville (TN), USA - Toruń, Poland - New Orleans (LA), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Melbourne, Australia - Moscow, Russia - Trujillo, Peru - Château-Gontier, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Joplin (MO), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Brookville (OH), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Baziège, France - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Detroit (MI), USA - Riga, Latvia - Nelson, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Cape Town, South Africa - Sydney, Australia - Dunedin (FL), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Radonvilliers, France - Turin, Italy - Montpellier, France - Kansas City (MO), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Wailea (HI), USA - Lubbock (TX), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Terrell (TX), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Budapest, Hungary - Montréal (QC), Canada - Sharon (CT), USA - Le Guilvinec, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - London, UK - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Orlando (FL), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Paris, France - Mainz, Germany - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Darmstadt, Germany - Naples (FL), USA - Torino, Italy - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - The Hague, Netherlands

Mushroom time

Does anybody know what kind of mushroom that is? Walking in Clingendael this afternoon, I was surprised by the number of them, but given the wet last days, it was pretty expected.

Clingendael is my favourite park in The Hague. It is a beautiful 55ha park in the middle of the city, with a very nice Japanese garden (only open in May and June), an old Dutch garden, a nice mansion from the XVIIth, farms, dunes, etc.... It was in private hands until 1954.