One of the most graceful and elegant flowers is the tulip. Its’ naturally sculpted petals stand proudly atop slender stems. They are the highlight of any bouquet - whether it be bridal or in a centerpiece.

Everyone associates the flowers with Holland, particularly the capital city of Amsterdam, however they’re Chinese in origin. They grew wild in Central Asia in what is now the China- Kyrgyzstan border, starting out as a mountain flower. It was possibly the traders om the Silk Road that brought them back to Istanbul in the year 1055. The Turkish loved them so much that they became the symbol of the Ottoman Empire in the Fourteenth Century. They were quickly introduced to Europe and became a frenzied commodity during the Tulip Mania of the Seventeenth Century. This occurred during the Dutch Golden Age where The Netherlands ruled everyone and everything. Holland was one of the richest countries on the planet. The startling amounts of wealth enabled merchants and traders to invest in tulips – sort of like a floral stock exchange. Tulip prices became astronomically high. The average price for one exceeded the annual income for a skilled worker and was actually worth more than some houses. Yet, it’s no wonder that the tulip is desirable. Its’ beauty was the subject of many Persian poets during the Medieval Period and is still a holy symbol in the Muslim religion.It’s called “lale” in Turkish ad when written in Arabic has the same letters as Allah – God.

Modern day gardeners and flower lovers adore them, wanting them as bouquets and centerpieces. A Saddle Brook florist can assist in creating pretty arrangements for weddings and even an at home fancy dinner.One of hardiest kinds is the Darwin Hybrid. This has a sturdy stem which makes it perfect for centerpieces and living room vases. Another popular tulip variety is the Triumph, often used in floral decoration. Its’ petal can be a creamy white or a delicate pale yellow. Of course , red tulips bring to mind the endless tulip fields of Holland. These are a beautiful reddish pink, perfect for a striking bridal bouquet. The blooms also come in shades of pink , from a hot candy shade to a soft baby blush. There are also fiery orange sunset apricot colors too. One of the rarest is the Black Tulip which is actually a deep maroon color but looks black in sunlight. It was even the subject of Alexandre Dumas great novel of passion and loss “The Black Tulip” set during the Tulip Mania.

Tulips have been prized for centuries They are still valued today for their elegance and beauty. They truly are the gems of the flower world

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