tulips at RoozenGaarde, March 20, 2015
Tulip Mania in Seventeenth Century Holland.
If you’re an investor, you may have heard of “tulip mania,” sometimes referred to as the world’s first recorded speculative bubble. Speculative bubbles always sound crazy after the fact, this one especially so.
Tulips were the new big thing in Holland in the early seventeen century. They were originally cultivated by the Turks, but now Dutch farmers were growing them. The country was in the midst of their Golden Age, and its upper classes were feeling exceptionally prosperous, and tulips were the luxury they coveted above all else, especially the flamboyant multi-hued tulips with streaks of white or yellow.
Soon speculators entered the market, buying on margin. At some point ordinary people began to dabble in tulips. And since ordinary people always come late to investment opportunities, their entrance into the market was a clear sign that tulips were ripe for a fall. By then, the price of a single bulb had climbed so high that the most prized variety sold for more than the value of an Amsterdam house.
Finally, in 1637, the inevitable happened. The tulip bubble burst.
Tulips meet daffodils at RoozenGaarde.
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
Holland is still known for its tulips, but the bulb farmers in the Skagit Valley in Washington State give them a run for their money. In fact, the largest single business in the world for growing tulips, daffodils, and irises is the Roozen family’s Washington Bulb Company located in Skagit Valley.
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival doesn’t officially start until April 1, but this year our winter was warmer than usual, so my sister and I took a little day trip on the first day of spring, March 20, to see what we could see.
Daffodils are always a little earlier than tulips, so it was no surprise that we saw fields bright with daffodils. We also saw fields of early blooming daffodils that had already wilted.
Sue and a field of daffodils
After some amateur photography from the side of the road, we headed for the display garden at RoozenGaarde. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, the vast majority of them making a stop at RoozenGaarde. Even on March 20, the garden had crossing guards to help us cross the country road from their event-sized parking lot.
It was windy and cool. I’m glad I brought my hat.
Each year three hundred thousand bulbs are planted by hand in RoozenGaarde. Not all the tulips were in bloom by the first day of spring, but there were more than enough for a beautiful display.
tulips and hyacinths
We topped the day off with some fun shopping in nearby LaConner.
Wow, what a gorgeous post. You and your sister look so much alike, Nicki, I thought it was you in that photo. As a gardener, all I could think of looking at these photos is the sheer amount of work that goes into creating such beauty. And every bit of it well worth it! Thank you for this glorious tour.
As you probably know, I absolutely love photographing flowers. However, I have never had the opportunity to take photos of tulips and daffodils! I love the bright and vibrant colors of the tulips – you captured them perfectly.
You were lucky to have went early. It looks like you had the place to yourselves, creating the perfect scenario to photograph those pretty blooms. BTW, you and your sister look so much alike!
How gorgeous! Love seeing fields of Spring.
Although the bulb fields are an hour’s drive from where I live now, they’re right next door from where I used to live. My sister even worked in the bulb fields for a few weekends when she was in high school. In those days they only sold the bulbs, not the flowers. So one of her jobs was popping the daffodils and tulips off their stems and throwing them in the dirt between the rows.
Looks like spring to me! Except we don’t actually have fields of tulips and daffodils here. I know a man whose family used to own a daffodil farm. I can only imagine what a pretty site!
You’re right, Suzicate. You know it’s spring when you see tulips and daffodils.
Fabulous photos, Nicki! I especially loved that last tulip photo — those double tulips are just gorgeous! I did know about the Dutch tulip bubble, which just goes to show there’s nothing new under the sun. Fortunately, at least that burst bubble left the flowers themselves behind …
Those double tulips look like peonies. Compared to the tulip bubble, our housing bubble seems more reasonable, although perhaps more damaging.
This is absolutely gorgeous, Nicki! Daffodils are such a symbol of spring. Tulips are my favorite flowers of all, despite their short life when cut for bouquets. Your sister and you look so much alike! Also I wanted to thank you for your last posts. I read them but was traveling. Away from my computer it is harder to comment. Your stories about the island were amazing. See you.
I hope your travels were enjoyable, Evelyne. My sister and I seem to look more alike as years go by.
Thanks for the tour of the Skagit Valley tulips and daffodil fields! Haven’t gotten up that way for the flowers in years! You take beautiful pix!
Do you remember Lee Mann, Veda? My mom worked for him for a few years. He took some beautiful tulip field photos before anyone else was doing it.
Hi Nicki – Very well done and so informative!
Hi Lynn. There’s so much interesting information about the bulb fields. The Roozen family’s story, for one, is fascinating. They came from a Dutch family that has been growing bulbs since the 1700s. Old Mr. Roozen immigrated here, and after saving his money for five years, he bought five acres. Now his children have 350 acres.
You and your sister could be twins, Nicki. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos. They make everything seem right in the world.
I’m glad you enjoyed the photos, Jill. We visited the tulips and daffodils on a cloudy day. It would have been even better on a sunny day like today.
Gorgeous! Fantastic pictures. I am envious of the hat AND what looks like a pretty nice camera.
It is a pretty nice camera, Autumn. I haven’t gotten around to downloading the instructions, though, so I just use the auto function. My sister is a more serious photographer. She’s belonged to the Mountaineers Photography Club for many years.
Beautiful photos. The tulips are gorgeous.
The tulips are even more gorgeous now, Michelle, nine days after I took those pictures. I’ve been seeing some stunning photos online of whole fields of tulips.
Love your hat. It’s perfect with a field of colorful tulips!
I had a drawer full of hats, but when I saw this one at REI, I couldn’t resist. It really keeps my ears warm.
Yay!!! Love these photos! They are good for my soul. I haven’t seen any flowers here where we’re struggling to break free of winter. So yay again!
I love tulips and daffodils! So nice to see them!
Once spring starts, the changes come fast. I hope you’ll be seeing your own tulips and daffodils soon, L. Marie.