Flower of the Week

So I'm a few weeks behind with the flower of the week. Life got very, very hectic.

With no no further ado...............

The Tulip

When thinking of tulips, most people assume they originated in Holland, but both the flower and its name originated in the Persian empire. The tulip, or lale as it is also called in Turkey, is a flower indigenous to Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and other parts of Central Asia. It's not known who first brought the flower to northwest Europe, but it's the Turks who made tulip known in Europe. The tulip originated over ten decades ago in Persia and Turkey, where it played a significant role in the art and culture of the time. Most likely commenting on the Turkish tradition of wearing tulips in one’s turban, Europeans mistakenly gave tulips their name, which comes from the Persian word meaning turban. As Europeans began taking to tulips, the flower’s popularity spread quickly, particularly in the Netherlands where a phenomenon called "tulip mania" set in between 1634 and 1637. Tulip bulbs were even a form of currency. Tulips became so highly-prized that prices went sky-high and markets crashed. "Wow", you think, "all that for a flower?" :)

Tulips are now grown throughout the world, but people still identify cultivated varieties as "Dutch tulips."

Tulips do best in climates with long cool springs and early summers, but they are often grown as spring blooming annual plantings in warmer areas of the world. The bulbs are typically planted in late summer and fall.

They are generally only available as cut flowers for weddings in springtime, but I found a grower in California who has them year round! Just a little note for you tulip lovin' brides-to-be.....

The meaning of yellow tulips has evolved somewhat, from once representing hopeless love to now being a common expression for cheerful thoughts and sunshine.

I love tulips for their wide variety of colors and shapes; from the ruffled French tulips to the deep, deep almost black "Queen of the Night." Just beautiful.........