Looking outside in Donate’s garden: ‘The second-hand artificial grass comes from the Arena’

Small pond

Donate has created a small pond between the ferns, hydrangeas and weed plants. “I once caught a few baby minnows with a scoop net and released them into my pond,” says Donate. “Actually, I spoil them too much with fish food, so they hardly fit in the pond anymore.”

“Look!” says Donate, “there is a frog. We have to look closely, but indeed, there is a beautiful green frog on a lily pad.

Baskets, trays and flower pots

Everywhere you look, flower boxes, baskets, buckets and pots with flowering plants hang and stand. “I bought special flower boxes with a water reservoir on the internet,” explains Donate. “In this way, the plants themselves can drink from the supply of water that hangs under the pot. When one was hidden, I made it myself with an old tea towel. It works perfectly again!”

Donate actually only buys new stuff in webshops. “Garden centers are too expensive for me and I don’t like shopping. Or I reuse old things, such as a trash can that is now used as a flower box in the garden.”

Compost, rainwater and a little love

It is striking that all plants and flowers, despite the heat, are all looking equally good. What’s your secret, Donate? “I water the pots and baskets every day from the rain barrels,” says Donate. “But I don’t give the garden plants anything extra. I let nature take its course and it actually works pretty well. Only the ferns have a bit of a hard time during tropical temperatures.”

Donate has a compost bin in the back of the garden. “I put garden waste in this together with some compost maker. This gives me greasy, nutritious compost soil full of worms. My plants grow well on it.”

AJAX turf

The path through the garden has been provided with artificial grass by Donate. “My son managed to buy a piece of artificial grass via Marktplaats. The funny thing is that it is the old turf of the Amsterdam Arena. The strip is actually too narrow, but we filled the edges with gravel.”

Pleasant living

Twenty years ago, Donate bought her home after her divorce. “It felt like home right away, now my son bought it from me.” Some plants such as the weigelia and a rose bush, but also the stones were already there. “Each time I add something to my garden: tomato plants in buckets, pear trees, carrots and grape plants.”

Donate doesn’t enjoy enjoying her garden in the sun. “It’s too hot for me, so I often sit in the shade against the facade of the house. I did convert the swinging frame of the grandchildren into a swinging bench for myself. My backyard really feels like a vacation. And when it comes to caring for my plants: I actually just do whatever.”

Now it’s your turn

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• Looking inside at, Living, Zoetermeerders
  
  

In Zoetermeer there are many gardens, balconies, roof terraces and other outdoor areas where people from Zoetermeer like to spend time….