Tiptoe Through the Tulips With Photographer & Storyteller Steve Tabor
Tiptoe Through the Tulips
By Photographer & Storyteller Steve Tabor
When we catch first sight of the tulip blooms, we can’t help but call to mind those iconic images of the Netherlands: windmills surrounded by the blooming tulips, the canals in the City of Amsterdam, and of course, a pair of wooden shoes. But these members of the lily family took over 700 years to travel from their rustic beginnings to the country they are most closely identified.
This hearty plant that blooms in spring and becomes dormant by summer was given their name by the Persians because of the petals’ resemblance to the style of headwear commonly worn by Persian men. The origin of the tulips is attributed to the temperate climates of the meadows, steppes and mountainous regions of Southern Europe and Central Asia, including Tian Shan and Pamir-Alai mountains ranges. These areas now encompass the countries of Greece, Albania, Kosovo, Southern Serbia, Turkey, Syria, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Jordan, the Sinai Peninsula, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bukhara, Samarkand, and Uzbekistan and parts of Romania, Ukraine and Russia.
By the midpoint of the 11th century, tulips became popular in the Ottoman Empire symbolizing nobility and privilege and were considered as an expression of perfection and beauty. Tulip bulbs and seeds began their journey to Western Europe as diplomats traveled to the court of the Ottoman Empire. In the 16th century, tulip bulbs were sent to Vienna as a gift from the Sultan of Turkey. By the end of the 16th century the tulip bulbs were widely distributed across western Europe.
Western Europeans were attracted to the tulip because of their variety colors and interesting shape. In the late 16th century, Carolus Clusius, a Dutch botanist, found that the tulip bulbs could successful be grown in the climate found in the southern region of the Netherlands and began cultivating the tulip.
It was during this time that the Dutch Republic was a world financial leader and considered the creator of the modern-day stock exchange and stock market. As the popularity of the tulip grew, the price of the treasured bulbs rose to as much as ten times the annual salary of a skilled craftsman. By 1636, the Dutch created the predecessor of the modern-day futures market. At that time tulip bulbs became the fourth biggest export of the Netherlands.
The price of tulip futures contracts finally collapsed in February 1637 when buyers were no longer willing to pay the inflated prices for the once treasured bulbs. Many investors and grower saw their dreams of vast amounts of profits turn to huge sums of debt. The Dutch courts offered no recourse to these individuals because they considered these financial dealings were a form of gambling.
About the same time as “Tulip mania” another phenomena struck many of the Dutch tulips. Initially, many western Europeans were quite taken by the solid colors of the blooming tulips. However, many of the tulip bulbs fell victim to the Tulip Breaking Virus, but this only increased their beauty in the eyes of the beholders.
The Virus infects the bulb and causes differences in the pigments and color patterns of the flower’s petals. Eventually, the virus ends up killing the plant. But, during the interim the plant produces petals with variations in colors and patterns that only adds to their beauty. One such admirer was renown Dutch painter, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. Rembrandt created several paintings of these unique blooms. Because of the bulbs’ fragileness, none of these flowers exist today. However, “Rembrandt Tulips” do closely resemble their predecessors and were given the name because of his paintings.
Today, there are endless numbers of the tulips and naturally, the Netherlands is considered one of the top tulip producers and exporters.
South Bay residents wanting to catch the first glimpses of Spring, do not have to travel far. The South Coast Botanic Garden is amid a super bloom of tulips. In addition to the tulips the Garden is home to blooming daffodils, cherry blossoms and paperwhites.
The Garden is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last admission at 4:30 p.m. Advanced reservations are required and completed by visiting the Garden’s website at www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org. Admission is $15 for adults, $11 for seniors and $5 for children. Members are free, but are required to make a reservation in advance of their visit.
Sources:
South Coast Botanic Garden
Wikipedia
Investopedia
Steve Tabor Bio
This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steve began with photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve has expanded his photographic talents to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics. Steve serves as a volunteer ranger for the Catalina Island Conservancy and uses this opportunity to document the flora and fauna of the island’s interior as well as photograph special events and activities.
Watch for Steve Tabor Images on the worldwide web.