Leilinden

Most of our Dutch readers will know these trees. For our other readers I will try to explain what Lei-Lindes are.

A Linde is a lime-tree, on proper British also called “Linden” or “Lindentree” and often used as a espalier. The branches growing the wrong way will be pruned. This way the branches stay horizontal and grow parallel with each other. Often seen in front of old farmhouses to shelter them from the sun.

Yes, we do live in old renovated farmhouse but the sun is warming the house at the back, the front is viewing the north.

When we moved in, not only the house but also the gardens at both sides were a mess.
After being empty and hardly looked after for 5 years, it definitely needed a make over.

But because you can’t do all at the same time, the house got renovated first; the heavy work before we moved in and the last nasty bits when we loved there. Therefore we are experts in battling dust, spiders, rubble and much more. An experience we will never forget!
The house is almost ready (still some paintwork to do) and the garden is getting there.

Two years ago we bought on the internet two big iron vases “in case of” De people I bought them from, Theunis and Alie van der Meer, turned out to be young, energetic, innovative and full if energy with their rather new “Garden and Landscape” company.
Of course we asked them how much it would cost to do our front garden. We must have been hard to deal with; not about the price though because it was a very fair one but because we knew exactly how it was going to look like, including Power Point presentation.
Fortunately Theunis van der Meer didn’t mind and within one day the front garden changed from a heap of grass lumps, unidentified plants and weeds, into a more appropriate one with buxus, lavender, roses and gravel!

We replaced the stone path (we used it in the back garden) for a large gravel path.
But it was not until this Spring that we removed the derelict fence between the neighbours’ and our garden. It looked awful and totally out of place.

Theunis also made an offer for three Lei-linden and arrived in March with poles, trees and beeches to replace the old fence. He and his colleague worked extremely hard, regularly distracted from their job by neighbours, passer-by’s and us with “Oooh’s” and “Aaaah’s” and compliments.
After a days work we were astonished by the transformation.

You might not like the poles to support the Linden (they are only temporary) but gosh, did it improve!

Slowly but surely the house is regaining its dignity. And being such a nice and friendly house, it truly deserves it!