Exquisite spring beauty - the tulip has long inspired poets, and its bright colors are reflected on many canvases of famous artists. In the East, this fiery flower was revered as sacred, and in Europe in the 16th century its price was equal to the value of a diamond.
Now bulbs and bouquets of tulips are no longer worth such fabulous money, but, as before, continue to fascinate with the incredible beauty and versatility of their varieties.
Oriental flower in the vastness of Europe
Many mistakenly believe that these spring flowers come from Holland, but in reality they were brought to Europe from Turkey, and from Iran, where they were considered a symbol of peace and harmony. The fiery flower of the East first came to European open spaces in the 16th century, and initially only aristocrats could acquire it. You could even buy housing for his bulbs.
Now there are more than 3000 varieties of tulips, characterized by a wide variety of color shades. The most common are red and yellow, but the color scheme of these colors is fantastically diverse.
Pink, white, violet, cream, purple, blue and even black flowers are amazing. The cup’s originality is also impressive, which can be in the form of a glass, resemble a blossoming peony or have needle-shaped edges.
Flowering simple early
In the photo: Duke van Toll
These tulips have been known since the 17th century, and their common ancestor is the European variety Duke van Toll. They are distinguished by a thick stem and a large flower, in shape resembling a glass, which can be painted in saturated bright colors (pink, orange, red). There are also white varieties. They are grown on a flower bed and in decorative pots, but because of the low stem they are usually not used in bouquets.
The most common variety in this group is the two-color Princess Irene, which has orange-red petals with a burgundy border. These flowers look great both on the flowerbed and in bouquets combined with forget-me-nots.
In demand among flower growers is the pink and purple variety "Candy Prince", considered one of the most tender. "The White Prince" impresses with snow-white petals with slightly pointed edges.
Early flowering terry early
In the photo: Monte Carlo variety
In their characteristics, they are similar to simple varieties, but differ in terry goblet buds that do not fade for a long time. They decorate borders in gardens, and also grow in pots. Monte Carlo variety blooming with yellow flowers is one of their most popular varieties.
Mid-flowering Darwin hybrids
These Dutch tulips with long stems and large buds were bred by the Netherlands breeders in the middle of the last century. Their color is very versatile: from traditional red and yellow to purple and orange shades. The most attractive among them is the red cultivar Apeldoorn, blooming in early May, but quickly fading in hot weather.
Simple late
This category includes up to 50 varieties (with a high stem and medium buds) that were bred by English breeders in the 18th century. They are distinguished by late flowering at the end of May. Unusual buds with rounded petals have a multifaceted color - from snow-white to almost black.
It is in this category that the most charming varieties “Queen of the Night” and “Red Georgette” belong. The latter impresses with an almost garnet shade of petals. The incredible purple color of the Queen of the Night flowers is so dark that they are even referred to as black tulips. This is one of the most extravagant and enchanting varieties.
Lily
They are considered the oldest variety of these flowers. Previously, they prevailed in all flower gardens, but now they are more often replaced by other beautiful tulips. The bud with pointed petals resembles a lily flower, which is the reason for the species name. Their colorful bloom adorns gardens and parks from mid-May. Photos of tulips of these exquisite varieties simply can not convey all their charm in wildlife. The most beautiful variety is Sapporo, whose flowers are very similar to royal lilies.
Green
The variety, distinguished by a greenish tint at the base of the petals, was bred by geneticists from wild tulips crossed with various other species of these flowers. Experiments to achieve the original greenish color are still ongoing. The buds can be of different colors and shapes, but invariably everyone has a green or light green hue on the petals.
Spring Green variety is popular. Large group plantings of the Artist variety look beautiful on the flower beds. The most extravagant in this group is Violet Bird, combining bright green and dark purple colors. It looks best next to white daffodils and pink forget-me-nots.
Fringed
In a separate category, these tulips with fringed rims on the petals were singled out at the end of the 20th century.
They differ in average stem height and relatively small flowers of yellow, white, pink or ruby hue. The most beautiful tulips in this category are Swong Wins, Joint Division, impressive thick fringe, and Lambada.
Rembrandt
They are so impressive with their original refinement and variegated color of the petals that the illusion arises that the great artist himself once sprayed paints from his palette onto these flowers and gave them such an incredible charm.
You can admire their colorful blooms from mid-May. These are the most rare and small varieties of tulips, characterized by unpretentiousness and special decorativeness. Cordell Hull and creamy purple Insulinde are popular.
Parrots
These tulips have the most amazing history of origin. They arose as a natural genetic modification of Darwin varieties affected by a rare virus. As a result, their petals became like shaggy wings and colorful feathers of exotic birds. These beautiful tulips create impressive decorative bouquets.
The Apricot Perrot variety has the longest flowering with delicate border and wavy edges of the petals, painted in bright red-orange tones. Rococo tulips, with buds with dissected edges of the petals with corrugated rim, are no less attracted by their exotic beauty. The unusual beauty of these varieties is impressive even in photography.
Late terry
Known since the 17th century, the variety is distinguished by colorful flowers resembling peonies. Its color can be both innocently snow-white, and incredibly bright and colorful.
These flowers have too heavy buds that can easily break with strong winds and rains. Among them, the most exotic is the Plombir variety with snow-white petals surrounded by pink, which is similar to ice cream and is considered especially demanding for care.
Wild tulips
The steppes and deserts of Turkey and Iran in the spring are covered with a colorful carpet of wild tulips. Also, such wild-growing, but single flowers can be admired in the Crimea, on the steppe open spaces of the peninsula. Among the highlands of the Himalayan mountains (1500-3000 m) there are glades of white tulips rare for wildlife, which look exotic against the backdrop of snow.
A particularly charming sight is the colorful blooming in mid-April of fiery flowers in the steppe of Kalmykia. This is a single place in Russia, where tulips grow on steppe lands that have never been cultivated by people. Here flowers of white (the earliest), yellow and red colors grow.
If you believe the legends, then every 9 years a rare black tulip blooms in the steppes of Kalmykia. Anyone who discovers it will be able to make a wish and find true happiness. Colorful flowering of fiery flowers in the Kalmyk steppe is observed for three days during the period when the soil dries up and it becomes really warm. Since 2013, a tulip festival has been held here.
Tulip Fields in the Netherlands
Holland is a real country of tulips. They were brought here at the end of the 16th century, which became the starting point of the tulip boom. People were ready to pay a fortune for exotic flowers at that time. Someone got rich on them, someone went broke. Since the 80s In the 20th century, tulips in the Netherlands are grown on an industrial scale, which makes this country their main exporter worldwide.
The colorful fields of these flowers can be admired in almost any corner of the country. But the most beautiful of them are located in Liss, where the extensive Keukenhof flower park is located. The most talented flower growers and landscape designers are working on creating original flower beds here. A walk along the alleys of the park will allow you to get an unforgettable aesthetic pleasure, admiring amazing tulip compositions.
Beautiful tulip fields in Holland are located near the coastal cities of the North Sea. You can also visit the tulip fields located in the drained reservoir of regular geometric shapes near Amsterdam, which is often called the city of tulips.
At the end of April, a colorful tulip festival is held in the capital of the Netherlands, where you can buy rare varieties of bulbs. It is also possible to admire these flowers in the Leiden Botanical Garden and in the fields around it.
Luxurious bouquets
White tulips go well with red and orange counterparts, and yellow - look good with irises. Original compositions are obtained when combined with blue flowers. For example, amazing wedding bouquets with snow-white tulips will turn out when azure hydrangeas are added to them. Such compositions are best gently emphasize the gentle and romantic image of the bride.
Contrast compositions are often preferred in which varieties with delicate shades of petals are combined with bright colors. Particularly careful selection requires composing bouquets with similar shades of tulips. These colorful flowers have almost no smell (in Persian manuscripts they were compared with a bright peacock without a beautiful voice), therefore they are especially popular for room decoration.
We advise you to look at an interesting article about the most beautiful bouquets in the world.
Symbolism of Tulips
There is an ancient Persian legend about King Farhad, who could not survive the death of his beloved and rushed down the cliff. At this place, beautiful red flowers grew - tulips, which became a symbol of boundless love. But there are a lot of varieties, and depending on the color of the petals, they may have different symbols.
A bouquet of red tulips is presented as a sign of passionate love, purple as a symbol of friendship and deep respect, and white as a sign of apology and reconciliation. The latter also testify to unconditional love, for which there are no barriers.
Pink flowers are associated with tenderness and joy, orange - with a good mood, and lilac - give in recognition of talent. Black and purple tulips used to be considered the flowers of aristocrats. They are a symbol of nobility.
Multi-colored tulips in a flower arrangement are considered a compliment to its recipient. Yellow tulips, according to the Uzbek legend, keep happiness. They are considered a symbol of joy and good luck.
Blue tulips are the result of a particularly long work of breeders and the imagination of dreamers who want to receive unusual flowers as a gift. In fact, this is still the same standard purple hue that, under certain lighting conditions, appears blue. It is believed that this is a flower of happiness and good luck.
Tulips in art
In Turkey and a number of Arab countries, the tulip is considered the flower of Allah, since the same letters are present in the name of the Almighty and the name of this plant. Therefore, his image is found in traditional oriental ornaments on carpets, fabrics and ceramics, as well as in the decor of Islamic temples. It is difficult not to bring a decorative plate with these beautiful flowers as a gift from Turkey.
A special role is played by tulips in Dutch painting. Many famous painters from various art schools addressed this topic in their works.
For example, these flowers can be seen in the original still life of Abraham Mignon "Bouquet with a cat and a mousetrap."
Rembrandt - Flora
In Rembrandt's painting Flora, a large tulip in a wreath of the goddess of the flower world attracts attention.
Jan Brueghel the Younger - “Satire on Tulip Mania”
The tulip boom in Holland in the 17th century is eloquently illustrated by the ironic picture of Jan Brueghel the Younger - “Satire on Tulip Mania”.
Jean-Leon Gerome - Tulip Madness
The same historical events were reflected in the painting “Tulip Madness” by Jean-Leon Jerome.
The Dutch tulip field can also be seen on Van Gogh canvases.
These flowers are the favorite theme of the work of contemporary American artist Sherry Wolf, which depicts closeup tulips in a vase against the backdrop of typical landscapes of the Wild West or historical paintings of Holland. The story serves as a vibrant backdrop for its floral arrangements.
Sherry Wolf Pictures
If you want to decorate the interior with a beautiful picture - you should choose a still life with tulips. Even the painted flowers are beautiful and, according to signs, can bring joy and prosperity to the house.
A gorgeous bouquet of tulips, even in the photo, will not leave anyone indifferent. These flowers will always remain at the peak of popularity, and the number of their connoisseurs will only increase. It is not surprising that even four centuries later in Holland the popularity of tulips did not fade, and their varieties continue to fly around the world, delight gardeners and connoisseurs of floral beauty both in gardens and in the wild.
Posted by Skywriter13