Thursday, May 20, 2010

Tulip Mania

Tulip mania was a period in the Dutch Golden Age during which contract prices for bulbs of the recently introduced tulip reached extraordinarily high levels and then suddenly collapsed. At the peak of tulip mania in February 1637, some single tulip bulbs sold for more than 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman. It is generally considered the first recorded speculative bubble. The term "tulip mania" is now often used metaphorically to refer to any large economic bubble.

These fine examples (and more) were recently on display at the LB Botanical Gardens.

Estella Rijnveld Tulip
This one is quite similar to the most expensive tulip of the Dutch Golden Age.
Fringed Tulip 'Blue Heron'
Tulipa pulchella 'Tete-a-Tete'
Tulip Batalinii 'Apricot Jewel' (species tulip)
Tulip batalinii 'Red Gem'
Tulip Batalinii 'Apricot Jewel' (species tulip)
Tulip gregii 'juan'
Tulip whittallii
Lily flowered Tulip 'Marriett'
Lily flowered Tulip
Tulip Photos Courtesy of Lisa Bourey

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