I’ve grown up with tulips—they are one of my mother’s favorite flowers. But it wasn’t until I wrote a book about them that I learned just how many types there are.
On Saturday I went to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and visited a redwood tree which is approximately 1,400 years old. Whenever I’ve made lists of my favorite things on earth, redwood trees are always on the lists.
I can’t tell you how much I love this. One of my favorite places to camp is Austin Creek, which is attached to Armstrong Woods (more in the mountains and less massive redwood grove-y). But I grew up with a redwood tree in my yard, and my crosscountry team used to run through Muir Woods for our workouts on really hot days. Old redwood groves feel like sacred places to me (because they are!).
Thanks so much for sharing this, Margaret. It brought back such good memories for me! 🙏🏼
I’m so glad you’re getting to soak up such goodness ✨✨
P.S. I loved reading about the Silk Road and Rumi connections to tulips, but what really captured my imagination was your description of the tulip party… they sound even nicer than the hanami in Japan and now I really want to attend a tulip party…
Isn't that fantastic? That is one of my favorite parts too.
I don't have the book with the exact description at the moment, but if I remember correctly the parties went on for three or four nights, with one of them being just for the Emperor and the women in his harem. There were songbirds in cages and decorations of glass orbs filled with colored water and the gardens were lit by crystal lanterns. It just sounds magical.
I had some small pink and green tulips that died off or maybe got consumed somehow. I’ve always been fascinated by a 1920s quilt pattern of red tulips. Even if I never end up planting a big bed of them, I’d like to make this quilt. One of my favorite red-pink nail polish colors is called Dutch Tulips, and I will have it on my toes at some point this summer! But I love most tulips, and you showed me some amazing ones!
On Saturday I went to Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve and visited a redwood tree which is approximately 1,400 years old. Whenever I’ve made lists of my favorite things on earth, redwood trees are always on the lists.
I can’t tell you how much I love this. One of my favorite places to camp is Austin Creek, which is attached to Armstrong Woods (more in the mountains and less massive redwood grove-y). But I grew up with a redwood tree in my yard, and my crosscountry team used to run through Muir Woods for our workouts on really hot days. Old redwood groves feel like sacred places to me (because they are!).
Thanks so much for sharing this, Margaret. It brought back such good memories for me! 🙏🏼
I’m so glad you’re getting to soak up such goodness ✨✨
P.S. I loved reading about the Silk Road and Rumi connections to tulips, but what really captured my imagination was your description of the tulip party… they sound even nicer than the hanami in Japan and now I really want to attend a tulip party…
Isn't that fantastic? That is one of my favorite parts too.
I don't have the book with the exact description at the moment, but if I remember correctly the parties went on for three or four nights, with one of them being just for the Emperor and the women in his harem. There were songbirds in cages and decorations of glass orbs filled with colored water and the gardens were lit by crystal lanterns. It just sounds magical.
Istanbul still has a big annual tulip festival, where they make massive Turkish rug patterns out of tulips: https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/events/tulip-festivals-jazz-up-cultural-ambiance-in-kashmir-turkey
It DOES sound magical… I’d love to have a party with songbirds, and glass orbs filled with water, and crystal lanterns!
I had some small pink and green tulips that died off or maybe got consumed somehow. I’ve always been fascinated by a 1920s quilt pattern of red tulips. Even if I never end up planting a big bed of them, I’d like to make this quilt. One of my favorite red-pink nail polish colors is called Dutch Tulips, and I will have it on my toes at some point this summer! But I love most tulips, and you showed me some amazing ones!