The Netherlands seem to be the designated country of tulips, but actually...tulips originated from Turkey, where they were already cultivated in 1000 AD. They were introduced in Holland in the 17th century by an Austrian biologist hired by the university of Leiden (wellknown university city in Holland). In his study of medicinal plants the ambassador of Istanbul gave him some tulip bulbs.
Do you know that in the winter of 1944, called by the Dutch "the hunger winter" (which was still in world War II) there was such a shortage of food, that people started eating tulip bulbs? It's true, I heard that story several times in my teen years.
When I lived in the Netherlands we made it a yearly outing in the month of May to see the newest kinds in the Keukenhof, a park of 800 acres with 600 varieties of tulips. They even have black tulips:)
© "Tulips from Holland", 24 x 24, Oil St.Germain
27 comments:
Greatly enjoyed this post! Learned something about tulips (their country of origin) and your painting is beautiful!
Ja..ja..ja..
dit zijn echt oer hollandse tulpen
:)))))))
P_R_A_C_H_T_I_G_
:)
:)
groetjes
:))
Ohmigosh! You are amazing! I love your painting of these beautiful tulips - and the history is interesting as well. I always was under the impression Holland was the birthplace of the tulip (so to speak).
My favorite part of my trip to Holland (back in late 80's)was our trip to Keukenhof. So beautiful!
Those are beautiful!
It must have been such a treat to see so many tulips in one place. I would love that.
You have a very beautiful painting that I love very much. And your information on the origin of tulips really surprises me.
Is that your painting - the face of passion? I'm sending it to Angie to see ...so compelling...
What a beautiful post!! I loved it, love the painting and the sentiments.;))
I often think about Amsterdam these days as I am watching my own tulips grow by each day. As the spring is so delayed here, they are still closed, but the blooming is imminent. Perhaps in a week or two, I can not wait to see the flowers, so I can finally write about them.;))
xoxo
PS: Lovely new picture of you on the sidebar.;))
Teresa,
Thank you and glad that you enjoyed it!
Anja,
Helaas is het hier in California vaak te warm om ze langer dan een paar dagen goed to houden!
Clytie,
Many don't know the history of tulips. Aaah, you went to the Keukenhof after I was there for the last time!
Jen,
Hope you'll get to see it someday - the colors are just breathtaking!
Rainfield,
Thank you for commenting on the painting Friend! Yes, isn't the history amazing?
Kathryn,
It always makes my day when people catch the essence of my painting (face of passion), Kathryn:)
It's already sold, but still available in print (24 x 24 or smaller)
Zuzanna,
Thank you, dear Friend! Am eagerly waiting the pics of your own tulips!
Hubby is getting better in taking my pics -isn't it amazing - another angle, how the light falls, the hat, and it looks like another person!
Those are truly beautiful! You are really amazing! Your painting is just wonderful :)
hugs marinela x x
Marinela,
Thank you friend! Think how good you'll be in writing when you get to be my age;)
I did know the story - why? I do not know, but tulips are beautiful. Ours are gone now, being replaced by other flowers.
You did justice to their beauty, Jeannette. Beautiful!
Joey,
Yeah, that would be something you would know:) Wow, the tulips in your yard bloomed early then! (in Holland their best blooming time is May).
Angie,
Thank you, dear Friend!
Beautiful tulips, Jeannette. I do love them more than any flower.
To see a large field of tulips must be a breathtaking sight. Your painting of these beautiful tulips is delightful.
Irene,
Do you sometimes go to Keukenhof? The last years before coming to the USA we made it a yearly outing, but I lived much closer (Ede) than you do:)
Pam,
Indeed it its! But so are fields of any flowers:)
The tulips are LOVELY ~ and your painting is AWESOME!! WOW!
Kerri,
Coming from you who does such professional work, I'm honored:)
Beautiful
Johnine,
Thank you, Friend!
They are stunning and beautiful. The only tulips we have here are plastics as they cannot grow here at all. Happy weekend :)
Jeannette: Tulips are a work of art and you captured them beautifully in your painting.
M.Kate,
Sorry! it's probably too warm or too humid for tulips? Hope you enjoyed yourself in the weekend:)
Tom,
Thank you! Next time you go to Europe, it's worth visiting the Keukenhof (the park where all the tulips are) -that is, if you visit in the Spring.
Beautiful photos and wonderful painting of tulips! I'm interested in the history of tulips - their origins, tulipmania and etc. Thanks for sharing:)
Prachtige tulpen, Jeannette! De fotos en de schilderij! Het is al zo lang geleden sinds ik naar de Keukenhof ging. Bedankt voor de "tulpen van Amsterdam".
Your tulip painting is beautifully textured. I wish I could do that. Talk about having patience!
Rosie,
You're welcome, Rosie! So many here are interested in tulips here in the USA (or maybe they talk about it more than in Holland...)
Dutchbaby.
Thank you, friend! I understand -have the same dilemma, the tulips only bloom for a short time. and when you want to go, you want to combine it with something else LOL
Ted,
The texture is easier to achieve than you think, Ted. A dry brush with only a little paint, and a papertowel does the trick.
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