Why so close? Why so many types? Why so colorful? What do the stand for? When do they bloom? What are they good for? Ever think why they are such a big deal? Well I have, so I did some research on these questions in my head and finally got some answers.
Like I didn’t know that there are over 150 species of tulips with over 3,000 different varieties. That’s so many! Or their flower buds are known for being almost perfectly symmetrical how cool right? Most tulips sprout a single flower bud, but a few varieties have up to four on a single stem.
Lilly’s are cool flowers to me so when I found out tulips are part of the lily family I was kind of surprised. The tulip is part of the Lily Liliaceae family and is of the genus Tulipa. With 109 species readily available, each has a common name to help differentiate between them.
I’ve always wondered when the best time to go take pictures of tulips were and no wonder I couldn’t ever find it except maybe a couple days of the year. It’s because tulips only bloom for 3-7 days in the spring. The other part is the best time to plant tulip bulbs is in the fall so they can grow roots before it gets too cold, According to The New York Times.
I think the best part about them is if you cut tulips, they’ll continue to grow in your vase for at least another inch. According to Teleflora, different colored tulips have different meanings. The red flowers symbolize true love while purple represents loyalty. Make a mistake? White tulips mean “I’m sorry.” Tulip petals are edible and can be used in place of onions in many recipes.
In the 1600s, they were even said to cost 10 times more than a working man’s average salary in the Netherlands, making them more valuable than some homes. The botanist Carolus Clusius, under the employment of the Roman emperor Ferdinand I, brought tulips to Holland from Turkey when he was appointed the professor of Botany at Leiden University.
resources
The New York Times
https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/a35956/tulip-fun-facts/
http://www.flowers.org.uk/flowers/flowers-names/q-t/tulip/