I'm a late convert to Tulips, maybe it was our holiday in Holland last summer that inspired me to plant pots of tulips to enjoy this Spring . . .
#030 Tulipa
Tulip ... various!
I like tulips mixed with other early bedding plants – violas and wallflowers – so they rise through a sea of colour. These were souvenir Tulip bulbs bought at the flower market in central Amsterdam, they are tall 'lily-flowered' and I think they may be called 'Claudia'.
They have been flowering for ages! and I love how they open right out in the warm sunshine.
Here are some more 'lily-flowered' tulips, a present from Cliff a few years ago, they've been in the same planter all that time and grow up through blue-green grass.
Short stemmed, with beautiful blue-green and burgundy patterned leaves, these are 'Red Riding Hood'. The bulbs were thrown out 'past their sell by date' by a garden centre and we got a huge bag for free just before Christmas! I planted them in pots in the greenhouse and then transplanted them into large planters on our patio, over-planting them with self-seeded Forget-me-not plants. So this display cost absolutely nothing!
In the beautiful sunshine we've had this week, the flowers open wide revealing the black centre and golden stigmas and stamens.
Stray tulips that appear in overgrown corners, red made even brighter by the surrounding lush greens.
A row of orange tulips surrounded by self-seeded Forget-me-nots and Calendula. Among the blooms this year is one with flame patterns - is this the infamous 'Tulip Breaking Virus' that got the Dutch tulip fans so excited in the early 17th century?
Even the the dying petals have a curious beauty, as if they are made from silk
In a slightly shadier position these almost black 'Queen of the Night' tulips are yet to bloom
I like the contrast between our mostly natural and slightly wild garden and the artifice of tulips bred for their curious shapes and rich colours over centuries . . . first in Persia and then in Holland. They are among the earliest 'florist flowers', grown to be arranged and enjoyed, as ephemeral works of art.
You may have spotted, behind the Tulips in the above photo, some other 'florist flowers' . . . more of those in the next post.
Celia
xx
They are all so pretty!
ReplyDeleteAll beautiful, Celia, but I am in love with the wallflowers! When I was little I announced that I would plant "brown flowers, because brown flowers smell best!"
ReplyDeleteI do love a good tulip! I've been taking pictures of mine this week but haven't got round to blogging them yet. I find it amazing how they just arrive in odd places in the garden too, I have several in my veg garden that certainly haven't been there before :-)
ReplyDeleteAren't tulips amazing! So many colors, shapes, petal arrangements. I love the looks of your mystery tulip, and also the luck you had in rescuing that quantity of tulips.
ReplyDeleteYes, Celia, I can spot the theatre in the background of your photo. I am looking ward to seeing a close up view soon.
I've mentioned your four-petaled flower cousins to several friends this week. Not one of them knew that they are were all related. Many thanks for the info.
Happy Easter! xo
Aside from the fact that I am seriously blowing raspberries at you right now for all your Springiness;when we had one day of Spring 4 days ago, followed (all in the one day) by torrential rain, hail and then MORE snow and below freezing temperatures here in Ottawa :I love your tulips LOL!
ReplyDeleteThey are so pretty. We have a big tulip festival here in May, showcasing thousands and thousands of tulips grown mostly from bulbs given to Ottawa by the Dutch government in thanks for giving refuge to Queen Juliana and her daughters during the war; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tulip_Festival
I am so ready for some Spring; at least I can look at your pretty flowers until mine appear again.
Carole
oh how I love tulips x
ReplyDeleteI alway though it such a chore to plant tulips every year but I have done these past few years and even found some species tulips that come up year after year. We hVe some tulips I did not put in but have been coming up every year since we moved in to this house almost 10 years ago. They are such blousey
ReplyDeleteI adore tulips! There are so many stunning varieties to choose from. So glad you're a convert - there are some brilliant ones in your post, just lovely x
ReplyDeleteTulips are my favourite flowers so I loved this post so much!
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