For the love of tulips.



I love tulips.  They symbolize beauty to me.  Their waxy petals intrigue me.  I read a book once, called Earthly Joys, by one of my favorite historical fiction authors, Philippa Gregory.  I don't quite remember the story (I shall re-read it!), but I remember Gregory introduced the reader to the dangerous, almost black market industry of growing rare tulips in Europe in the setting of the story.  I wonder if this tulip is a part of that lineage of tulip growing.  Either way, I can't wait for Spring!

Did you know that tulips are one of the few flowers that grow after they're cut?  [Doesn't it make you like them more?  They're determined little ones, they are.]  That's why it's common to see them bowing over the edge of your vase the day after you create your arrangement.  And, to keep them from wilting, there's a rumor that by putting a penny in the vase, that they tulip will stand at attention for a longer period of time.  I'm not sure this works, but I still add a penny to my jar. 

The gorgeous tulip find (in the middle of winter) was on our table at a crepe restaurant called "Rooster" we visited on a girlfriend jaunt to St. Louis.  If you go there, go there.  Eat.  At Rooster.  Here's their link: http://roosterstl.com/.  I've shown you the perfect drink menu for my taste-- many, many, confusing and delicious options.  I ended up enjoying a Bellini.

I saw multiple tulips like this while in SL.  You can't see the scale, but the bud of this tulip is three times the size of tulips we see up in Chicago.  This place was AMAZING.  I am determined to find a place where I can find some here at home.  And, let me tell you, that tulip entranced me (and I love mason jars).  Additionally, the cheddar and bacon stuffed olives also seemed to have made an impression on me as well. My friend Katie and I are going to try to make our own.  More on that later.