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Monday, March 2, 2009

Competitive tulips

The competitive classes here usually draw two types of people - those doing the competing and people like me who just like to see beautiful and unusual specimens of plants and flowers. They're marvelous, in part because they're so far removed from anything ordinary folks can grow. I mean, how do they do that? How do they nurture and tease these plants into perfect bloom during flower show week?  It takes a lot, and don't get mad at me here, but I think it also takes a somewhat (does that get me off the hook?) compulsive person. And who has time? Some people have gardeners and staff who have the time. The rest are on their own, and they sometimes take extraordinary measures. They stick their plants in the fridge if they're too rambunctious. They bring 'em out when they're iced into sluggish submission. There are other tricks, way too much trouble for me. And I know the process drives people crazy - but they can't stop the fussing. I'm sorta glad there are people like this in the world because look what they produce. These tulips are called 'Olympic flame,' rather obvious why. You can feel their waxy petals without touching them. You can sense the spring sun behind them. And what colors. Believe it or not, this pot only took second prize. Ciao.

 
Posted by virginia smith @ 4:22 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
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About Virginia A. Smith
Ginny Smith, a Philadelphia native, worked as a reporter at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Ohio – with six short months at the end of the Bulletin tossed in – before returning to Philadelphia in 1985 to join the Inquirer. Her favorite beats here have included Center City, roving around Pennsylvania (and getting paid for it!) and alternative medicine. She’s also been City Editor and Pennsylvania Editor. Ginny has been happily writing – and learning - about gardening fulltime since 2006. She’s won two silver medals of achievement from the national Garden Writers Association and in 2011, Bartram’s Garden honored her with its Green Exemplar award for her stories about “the region’s deeply rooted horticultural history, cultural attractions and bountiful gardens.”
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