There is a joy to the very first snowfall, when fluffy white flakes transform the world into a winter wonderland. But, after 4 months of the cold and snow, it’s completely understandable to have your sights set on the Spring. To yearn for the bright warm sun and for the world to explode in vibrant colours. And nothing reminds us of the season of renewal quite like tulips.
Readily available and coming in a variety of colours and cultivars, they symbolize the season and fill our hearts with joy.
One Thousand Years of Tulips
Dating back to 1000 AD and the Age of the Ottomans, tulips were initially discovered in modern day Kazakhstan and brought back to the lush gardens of the most powerful people of the Ottoman empire in present-day Turkey. There, thousands would celebrate their blooms every year. The many gardens would see a vast number of visitors eager to see the blooms each year.
The name “tulip” honours these first cultivation efforts, as tulip derives from the Turkish word for “turban” which reflects the flower in full bloom. Rising to elevated status as a symbol of both power and wealth, tulips found their way into the gardens of Europe and eventually around the world. Over time, the tulip has come to embody the deepest of loves, symbolizing rebirth with its appearance after a long winter. In Victorian Floriography, a perfect and unconditional love that is not restricted to romantic relationships but to all relationships.
From Bulb to Fresh Cut Tulips
Today, there are over 3000 varieties of tulips with an enormous range of colours, heights, sizes and petal diversity. But, all tulips form modified stem structures known as bulbs. While you can grow tulips from seeds, a tedious process to say the least, growing these dazzling botanicals from bulbs is easy and the preferred method. It’s as easy as simply burying them in the ground!
Tulip bulbs are planted in the late autumn prior to the ground freezing, to then awaken the world after Winter’s long sleep. The ground freezing or at least getting extremely cold is essential for the growth of the flowers. Following, this cold period tulips are then able to grow their flowers.
While growing them is easy, enjoying fresh cut tulips is even easier. Unlike most fresh cut flowers that begin to die as soon as they are cut, tulips can continue to grow (up to 6 inches in some cases!) making them ideal to showcase in your home. Most tulips are not fragrant, but there are new varieties that do lend a sweet smell.
If you’re looking to freshen up your home this spring, this is our recipe for a beautiful arrangement that will brighten spirits and welcome the season.
Emerson Wild’s Spring Tulip Arrangement
What You’ll Need:
One bouquet of tulips (we love using white/cream and yellow)
One bunch of pussy willow branches
Small bunch or a few stems of butter cups (we love bright yellow/cream)
A tall glass vase
What to Do:
- Prepare your tulips by removing any foliage that will be under the water line. The decomposition of these leaves will shorten your tulips longevity, so it’s best to clean them up first.
- Snip your tulip stems at a 45-degree angle and fill your vase with fresh cold water, a little less than 3/4 full. Trim your pussy willow branches at the same angle and remove and buds that may be under the water line. Finally, snip your buttercups and remove any foliage below the waterline.
- Add your tulips first and then gently insert the pussy willow branches. The longest branches on the outsides and the shortest between the tulip stems. Finally, add in your buttercups throughout your tulips.
- Every few days, swap out your cold water and every four days or so, retrim your tulips and buttercups.
- Enjoy the beautiful blooms!
The love we have for tulips are endless! We hope you enjoy them this Spring as well. Connect with us on Instagram and be sure to follow us on Pinterest. We are always pinning the latest trends on all things floral.
