From early March we observe how nature awakens to a new spring. Following the early snowdrops, more and more bulbs raise their heads above the ground. Daffodils are followed by crocus and forsythia. By late March & early April shrubs set flower or show their first green leaves. In April the entire province of Overijssel turns white, as the apple orchards and especially the Canadian wild-plum burst into flower. This period is a short but highly spectacular moment of the year. Please call us to check progress, as the weather largely determines this most spectacular blooming season. The birds have started building nests and all day you will hear an orchestra of chirping birds. In May, the fruit trees are followed by flowering shrubs and thorns, while fresh green is seen everywhere. The cuckoo calls in the forest around our house. Early morning and late evening, deer graze the neighbouring fields. Sometimes one even gets into our garden.
From June the summer really gets going. The grass grows in abundance, nature blossoms and rejoices in the very long evenings. The sun sets just before 11pm. The elderberries flower with their large white shields. The roses present their splendid blooms and the annuals are starting to flower. The air is scented by the many different plants. The fledglings are starting to leave their nests and nature is full of parents feeding their young. Caterpillars are everywhere and soon we will see hundreds of butterflies. From the terrace of B&B de Kleine Kolonel you will witness spectacular sunsets in late evening.
From August onwards days start to get noticeably shorter. In the evenings we see “Witte Wieven” – famous shrouds of low hanging mist that weave themselves around the country side. The province of Overijssel is famous for these natural phenomena. The fruits and berries in our orchard are ripe and we enjoy the riches of our vegetable garden. A wide variety of toadstools appear in the garden as a sign that autumn will be upon us soon. The short life, shapes and colours of the many unique species continue to amaze us. As we approach October the leaves on the trees start to turn to their brilliant autumn colours. In a good year, the trees in our region resemble the spectacular splendour of the famous “Indian Summers” of North America.
After the clocks change November brings us much shorter daylight hours. The temperature drops and night frosts become a regular occurrence. By early December we are likely to see the first snow turn our surroundings into an all-white fairy tale. As our climate is more continental than the maritime Dutch coast, our winters are more pronounced than in Amsterdam. So a little colder with more frost and snow.
After a long winter’s walk it is great to relax in the comfort of a soft sofa in our warm cottage. We offer hot soup to warm you up and perhaps you would like to relax with a great novel or one of our many famous DVDs. Our house is surrounded by bird feeders and you will see a large variety of birds flock to the different delicacies on offer.