Teardrop
by Connie Handscomb
Title
Teardrop
Artist
Connie Handscomb
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
She cried
for the despair
of humanity,
and for
its complete
and utter
Joy.
~ C.
* ------------------------------ *
Tulip
Genus : Tulipa spp.
Family : Liliaceae
The tulip grew wild abundantly in the central Asia mountains, in China & Mongolia, in North Africa, and later throughout Europe. Tulip designs have been found on pottery dating back to 2200 BC. So, while one might tend to think of Netherlands as home of the tulip, it was actually first cultivated in Turkey, grown in the palace gardens of the sultans, and is in fact the national flower of Hungary, Turkey & the "Tulip state" Kyrgyzstan. Turkey held the first tulip festivals - it represents abundance and indulgence - and Istanbul still hosts them. Its name is derived from the Turkish word for 'turban' (tulband) because of its shape. As a cultural symbol of the Ottoman Empire, it appeared on textiles, ceramics, woodcarvings and many other art forms.
The Flemish ambassador wrote of it, and it is believed a botanical professor, Charles de L'Ecluse, brought the tulip to Holland in 1593, having purchased it in Istanbul. The professor admired the work of the Flemish painter Paul Rubens, and after the tulip was propagated at Leiden University, it was shipped to him. Painters loved to paint the tulip. The Golden Age of Dutch painting was abundant with still life compositions of the tulip. Special tulip books were published, as were catalogues for wealthy collectors.
In 1630, one single bulb was exchanged for:
2 wheat loads, 4 rye loads, 4 fat oxen, 8 fat pigs, 12 fat sheep, 2 bogsheads of wine, 4 barrels of beer, 2 barrels of butter, 1,000 lbs. of cheese, a bed, a suit of clothes, and a silver beaker.
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, of course, 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.
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]
* --------------------------- *
♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA groups who have featured this image :
FAA Featured Images
Tulip Macros
Uploaded
February 19th, 2014
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Viewed 236 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/23/2024 at 11:11 PM
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Comments (15)
Tammy Miller
Tulips are my favorite flowers and I love this one! It's amazing how one single drop can add so much to something already so beautiful! l/f
Connie Handscomb replied:
Tammy, sorry for my late thanks to you! I love tulips in the springtime, too :))
Lyudmila Prokopenko
Connie! You love flowers so much that they love you!
Connie Handscomb replied:
You've made me smile, Lyudmila; thank you! yes, I do love flowers very much .. this is one of my older images, taken after a rainfall {we've had a drought this summer, but generally, we get a lot of rainfall here .. especially in the wintertime} :))
Connie Handscomb
Oh, Horrors! Robert, I goofed ! ... Me: bad - I pressed the wrong button ... delete, delete ... I messed up ....you may see this again in its right time "if & when" , but it's not now ... {sheesh! I bet you've never had THIS before} ... ... *sigh* {sorry} ....*shaking her head*
IM Spadecaller
Wonderful work. How amazing that our florals and titles have so much in common. LFV
Connie Handscomb replied:
Isn't synchronicity grand? thank you, sir ... you have honoured me again {I do so love when you come to visit} :)))