Discover
Stinzen
Every spring, the park of the Fraeylemaborg is full of spring flowers, called “stinzen” in Dutch. These early flowering plants, which grow in many historical sites, originate from Southern and Eastern Europe and were brought to Northern Europe, particularly in the 19th century. Because the plants can withstand frost and reproduce naturally, they grew well here. Therefore, they became very popular and widely collected by wealthy citizens.
In the 19th century, owner Hendrik de Sandra Veldtman invested heavily in the garden and park. After his death, his daughter Louisa and her husband jonkheer Johan Hora Siccama took over that task. Some of the bulbs of the Fraeylemaborg were planted during that time: some as much as 200 years ago.
Under the right conditions, Stinzenplants return every year. Therefore, instead of the new varieties you find in a typical garden center, historical variations return year after year.
Stinzenplant
The name “stinzenplant” emerged in the 1930s and is a reference to the Frisian word “stins” for stone house. In Groningen, you see them a lot near manors and churches. That is why they are also called ‘Börgbloumkes’ here. Even in places where the building has disappeared, the little plants remind us of a once lush garden.
Flowering season begins in February when the snowdrops emerge en masse, the harbinger of spring. More than 20 species of snowdrops are now known in the Netherlands; at the Fraeylemaborg you will find: Galanthus nivalis, Galanthus nivalis x gracilis and Galanthus nivalis ‘Flora Pleno’. The latter is a cultivated plant with double flowers, which can only reproduce through new bulbs.
Stinzens at the Fraeylemaborg
There are many other flowers to spot, especially in April. . One of the latest to bloom, and the rarest, is the Turkish lily. House archives show that bulbs of this species were planted as early as 1819. There are now only five places in the Netherlands where you can see this original species.
Each year, accurate records are kept of which species bloom and when. This is important for the preservation of these special little plants, but also very useful for enthusiasts who don’t want to miss them. Want to know which shrubs are in bloom and where? Check out www.stinzenflora-monitor.nl.
