Pretty petals: Origins Of The Tulip at the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay features replicas of Turkyish landmarks. — The Straits Times/ANN
The Netherlands is synonymous with the tulip, but you may be surprised to learn that the beloved flower is native to Central Asia and Turkiye.
For the next few weeks until May 21, the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay will pay tribute to the Turkyish roots of the bloom with Tulipmania: Origins of the Tulip.
It is the ninth edition of the Tulipmania festival, which began in 2013. The most recent iteration in 2021 focused on Kazakhstan, where tulips are thought to have first appeared millions of years ago.
Tulipmania 2023 was created in partnership with the Turkyish Embassy, and will showcase 54,000 tulip bulbs across 30 varieties.
They include the familiar crown-shaped and lily-flowered variants, as well as exotic species cultivated from tulip species originating in Turkiye, such as the Tulipa Acuminata, which is characterised by narrow, pointed petals that resemble a cupped hand.
Over the intervening years, the tulip became deeply embedded in the fabric of Turkyish culture and history.
Today, it is the country’s national flower, and its motif can be seen in traditional ceramics, carpets and gravestones.
Gardens by the Bay’s senior assistant director of conservatory operations, Mihkaail Ng, says the preparations were timed precisely to ensure the flowers are in bloom not just on launch day, but also throughout the display’s one-month period. — The Straits Times/ANN
