Tulips - a flop when fried, tops in the vase
What did a merchant do when he was delivered unknown onions in the 16th century? He ate them, which was a mistake. Because they were tulip bulbs.
First tulip bulbs were fried
When the tulip came to Europe in the 16th century, it caused great excitement, especially among the Dutch. The first onions are said to have been fried by mistake, because they were thought to be edible onions.
But since they did not taste good, the remaining ones were thrown on the manure, where they sprouted the most beautiful flowers a year later.
Flowering and decline of the tulip
Now suddenly unimaginable sums of money were paid for them, until in 1637 the prices dropped dramatically and quite a few Dutchmen lost all their possessions. Nevertheless, the tulip trade in the Netherlands did not stop.
Even after the «Black Friday of Alkmaar», the Sun King Louis XIV still had four million tulip bulbs imported every year. And the Turkish Sultan Ahmed III also ordered thousands of them.
Swiss still love tulips today
And the Swiss? Are still completely «in love with tulips» today.
This is shown not only by the many surveys, but also by the fact that tulips sell best in Switzerland from January to April.
More about the most popular spring flower
All my worldly goods for a single tulip bulb
Horrendous real estate prices? We know that. But for tulip bulbs? Read what was paid for a single bulb at the height of the tulip mania.
Tulips - a flop when fried, tops in the vase
What did a merchant do when he was delivered unknown onions in the 16th century? He ate them, which was a mistake. Because they were tulip bulbs.
About colors
Tulips are not just tulips. Because depending on the color, they have different messages and effects.
Aphids «created» the most expensive tulip
In the past, multicolored tulips were particularly valuable. This gave the growers the craziest ideas and they started to experiment.
Tulips stand for new life, immortality and love
Initially, tulips represented new life, love and tenderness. No wonder then, that today they are also given as messengers of love.
Tulips intrigue us again and again
We are all familiar with tulips. But there are also mysteries. For example, why do they continue to grow in the vase? And why do they close their flowers at night?
Wild tulips of Valais
Do you fancy wild tulips, which are nowhere else to be found or are at least extremely rare? In the canton of Valais there are two species of wild tulips.