‘Tulipmania’ – A Display Of Tulip Flowers

Tulipmania is a flower display of tulips in the Flower Dome in the Gardens by the Bay. The word ‘tulipmanina’ refers to the Dutch tulip craze that occurred during the 17th century. At that time, tulips were a symbol of ‘wealth and good taste’. By the early 1630s, the tulip was a fixture in Dutch gardens. According to Wikipedia, in the summer of 1633, ‘a house in Hoorn was exchanged for three rare tulips and a Frisian farmhouse was traded for a number of tulip bulbs’. That was when ‘tulipmania’ was coined to call the Dutch tulip craze at that time.

Although tulips are as synonymous as clogs, windmills and cheese with The Netherlands, they are not originally from The Netherlands. Tulips actually originated from the Central Asian steppes and highlands of Anatalia – the peninsula forming most of the present-day Turkiye. Apparently it was the European ambassadors in Istanbul who carried the bulbs back to Europe where it started the tulipmania.

The name “Tulip” was derived from the shape of the flower that resembled the turban (dulbend or tülband) of Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, now known as Türkiye.

Tulips have reinvented themselves through centuries of cultivation, adapting to aesthetic trends and trade as well as the desires of sultans and gardeners alike. They are typically classified into 15 categories based on their flower shape, origin, and bloom time. Apparently there are 3,000 registered tulip varieties. And in Kazakhstan, there are more than 35 species of wild tulips, 18 of which are protected by the state.

Some fun facts about tulips. Tulips are often associated with affection, admiration, and passionate love, making them a popular choice for romantic gestures. Their association with spring also connects them to ideas of rebirth and new beginnings. Tulips generally last between 5 to 10 days in a vase with proper care. 

The ‘Tulipmania’ is on until the 18th of May. I was there last Friday to have a look at the display. Here are some photos of tulips from my visit.

This is the centerpiece at the entrance of the Flower Dome. Visitors were waiting to take a photo with the balloon in the background.

The Flower Dome is open from 9am to 9pm.

You can click on the picture for a better view.

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