Tulips
Thoulypen, or tuliban, words in the Turkish language that mean turban, is most likely the origin of the name Tulip. A turban shaped flower, or because the Turks tucked the pointy petaled flowers into their turbans, it's uncertain how the flower came to be named such, but it is generally agreed that Tulips did originally come from Turkey. None are native to Holland where now the worlds supply of tulips now flows. Holland produces about 3 billion tulip bulbs a year of which 2 billion are exported, and one billion remain in the Netherlands. The U.S. is the major importer, about one billion a year, followed by Japan and Germany. Most of the U. S. imports go into home gardens.
35,000 tulips can be viewed at Pier 39's "Tulipmania" this year between February 28th to March 8th, with free tours daily at 10 AM at the piers entrance plaza at Beach Street and the Embarcadero. Call (415) 705-5500 for further information. This is not however the first Tulipomania. The Dutch cultivation of tulips began slowly in the early 1600's in small exclusive plots in the area lying between the North Sea and Amsterdam in an area called the "Bollenstreek", or the bulb growing region. The soil in this region is a course grainy sandy soil. The wealthy were the only ones who could afford tulips, and in fact became symbols of status. The newly wealthy merchant classes had to have them and a buying frenzy evolved. By 1624, it was broadly realized that any tulip in anyone's garden may suddenly change color and become one of the prized multicolored, highly sought after, fortune makers. The mania swept through all classes of people, and bulb speculation swept the country. 'Semper Augustus', a white and maroon "Rembrandt type" could fetch 3,000 gilders per bulb. That is equivalent to about $1,500.00 US today. The striping that occurs at random and made the poor gardener a wealthy gardener was due to a virus that caused the striping to occur. Solid colors were of little value. Another bulb was known to command 4,500 gilders and a horse and carriage. 3,000 gilders at that time could buy 2 loads of wheat, four loads of rye, four fat oxen, five swine, 12 sheep, two hogsheads of wine, four barrels of beer, two barrels of butter, a thousand pounds of cheese, one complete bed, one suit of clothes and one silver tankard. This is the recorded transaction for the rights to a bulb called 'Viceroy'. Tulips were traded as stocks are now traded today, often times having never seen the crop, or ever holding a bulb in their hands. Fortunes were made in a season. A rare bulb was sold by weight, as is gold. Tulipomania was at its peak from 1634 to 1637, ...and then it crashed. The very rich often went broke overnight, and not unlike the stock market crash of the 20's, people committed suicide, and paper was sold off at a few percent of its original value.
The Tulipmania we are privileged to enjoy is fraught with drama as well, but no fortunes need be lost. The Tulips bloom only lasts for about 2 weeks, but with some planning, they can be enjoyed over several weeks by planting early, mid and late bloomers. Some you may see at Pier 39 display are Lily flowered tulips, which are very different from the other hybrids. This type is closest in appearance to the original species type of tulip that was seen and brought back to the Austrian court of Ferdinand in 1554 from Constantinople. These first tulips were given to botanist Carolus Clusius, who was engaged at the Imperial Medicinal Garden in Prague. In 1593 he left for the Netherlands, where his Protestant beliefs were better tolerated. He apparently was very stingy with his transplanted tulips, allowing them to no one. Some thwarted entrepreneurs, however, helped themselves to his collection in the dead of night, and thus began the Dutch tulip trade.
Others you will see are single early hybrids. These tulips have pointed buds that open flat in the full sun. These tulips are used mainly for forcing, but bloom very early and may be seen in late February or early March. Let's hope they wait for the rain to slow down before they open up. Early Double Hybrids have a double row of petals, sometimes 4" across. They bloom early in March and are very long lasting. Double early tulips are always planted with Double late tulips for a month or more of bloom. Early tulips are about 12" tall. Triumph tulips are mid-season bloomers and are resultant from a cross of early and late flowering varieties. These are a little taller at 16-18" tall and mix in well with the early bloomers, pushing the bloom a little longer into early March. Darwin hybrids are the most widely planted tulips ranging in height from 24" to 30" with flowers 5 to 7" across. Depending on the hybrid, they will bloom early March to late March. Look for 'Gordon Cooper'-a carmine pink, 'Ivory Floradale', and 'Pink Impression', for earlier booms and 'Balalaika'-red, 'Maureen'-white, and 'Menton'-salmon, for late season tulips. Double late (Peony) tulips are called so because of their resemblance to the fullness of a peony flower. These types bloom mid-March to early April, and are substantial enough to stand up to spring winds. Fringed tulips are the last to bloom, and are the most tolerant to heat. Parrot tulips, AKA Rembrandt tulips have irregularly fringed petals and are thought to look like bird feathers. They were common subjects of 17th century botanical paintings. Although, Rembrandt himself was not fond of painting florals, they were more likely painted by Frans Halls, Breughel, or other Dutch masters of the early 17th century. Viridiflora tulips have a green band that runs through the length of their petals in combinations orange, white, and pink.
Beat winter-itis by becoming a Tulipmaniac for a day.
Carol de Maintenon is a member of Garden Writers of America and owner of Benicia Garden & Nursery.
