Anything Goes

by Connie Handscomb

Title

Anything Goes

Artist

Connie Handscomb

Medium

Photograph - Photography - Fine Art

Description

Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.
~ Dr. Seuss

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By the 17th c., 'Tulipmania' was in full swing: a single bulb was worth the equivalent price today of a house and a garden. The Dutch created formal geometrically shaped gardens and fountains in the Italian fashion, and the plants became "botanized" (grown for decorative qualities) whereas previously they had been kept by physicians and cooks. Initially the blooms were simple, with limited range of colours; then doubles began appearing, and the 'broken' tulips - much prized - those with intricately flamed, striped or feathered petals. No one knew then that their beauty was caused by a virus brought on by aphids, and even though the plant was inevitably weakened by it, the blooms became the most popular. It became known as the world's florists' flower, and the more brilliant and lively it was, the more it was loved.

Today, 15 groups with approximately 2,600 varieties of tulips exist, with Holland exporting 60% of the world's tulips. The species bulbs are more vigorous than the weaker hybrids which tend not to lose vigour after a year or two but whichever is used, it is now the 'people's flower' , cherished by all.

In a vase, tulips prefer not having flower preservative.

Tulips are symbolic of love, eternal life and are heralds of spring. Variegated tulips mean 'beautiful eyes'.

Sources:
Fifty Plants that changed the Course of History (Bill Laws)
Four Chefs, One Garden : Seasons Of West Coast Living [Roy]
Painterly Plants [Clare Foster; Photog.Ruber]
The Romantic Language Of Flowers [Davies; Saunders]
A Garden Of Fragrance [S. Bales]

* ----------------- *

In the 1930's a musical called Anything Goes was popular; the title song music and lyrics were by Cole Porter. The story revolved around madcap antics aboard a steamer ship.

The stripes of this variegated tulip and the intense bokeh background are somewhat madcap, too ; my original capture; uncropped; unedited .... nature in all its flashy, brash splendour :)

💕 Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA groups for featuring this image;

Tulip Macros
Roses And Tulips

Uploaded

June 9th, 2017

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