Part of The Netherlands is transformed into a vast sea of flowers from mid March to mid May. It starts with crocus (saffron plant) season in March, followed by daffodils and hyacinths. Finally the tulips show their gorgeous colors, from mid April through the first week of May. A floral paradise for true flower enthusiasts.
Our daughter, Allyana "Aya" Apepe is with the Alaska Milk Corporation as an industrial engineer. Alaska is a subsidiary of the Dutch multinational dairy company Friesland Campina, based in Amersfoort, Netherlands.
She is there now attending a business conference. She visited a flower show and sent us pictures, which we share below.
We also have fascinating facts about tulips.
We all think we know where the tulip comes from. Tulips are one of the iconic symbols of Holland and although Holland are the largest producer of tulip bulbs and flowers, the flower actually originated in Turkey, where they grow in the wild. Tulips were brought to Holland, via Great Britain, in the late 1500s.
Tulipa is the Latin word for tulip which is derived from Tulipan, meaning "turban". They are called this because of the shape the tulip flower has.
During the Dutch Golden Age, prices for some tulip bulbs reached unbelievable heights because they were a fashion item and were the most expensive flower of all time. A few years later, the cost came dramatically down, bankrupting some merchants.
Tulips are eager to grow and are best planted in the Autumn so that the roots can form before the frost kicks in. Planting them this late in the year helps to wipe out any fungal diseases in the soil which may infect the bulb. If planted deeply, tulips are more likely to flower year after year but less likely to reproduce. Some varieties, including the dwarf tulip, also work well in containers.
They actually continue to grow after they are cut and they do not need cut flower food. They will grow about an extra inch after they have been cut. They will also bend and twist to grow towards the light (even when they are in a vase!). If you keep them well watered and away from heat sources like radiators, they should last around seven days.
Because they are both elegant and simple, tulips have become symbols for a range of things. These include enduring love between partners or family, royalty, and neglected love. They are also the flower for the 11th wedding anniversary.
Not only are they beautiful in your garden, but you can eat them as well! Adding tulip petals can brighten up mundane salads, can decorate deserts and cocktails or you can stuff tulip flower heads for a tasty appetiser. Only use petals that have not been treated with chemicals and stay away from the bulbs which can be poisonous.
Tulips are related to the equally beautiful lily. They are also distant relatives to onions and garlic.
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