Few things capture the pure joy of spring like the cheerful sight of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other spring-flowering bulbs shooting up from the soil after a cold, grey winter. But these beloved flowers are more than just garden favourites. They connect people and have played a leading role in art, literature and cultural traditions for centuries. From colourful festivals in the Netherlands to romantic paintings, city squares full of fragrant flowers in Istanbul and sacred meanings from a distant past, flower bulbs stir emotions around the world and have inspired artists, storytellers and gardeners throughout the ages.
Flowers of myth and splendour
Flower bulbs held sacred significance long before they ever graced our gardens. Ancient Egyptians depicted lilies in tombs as a symbol of rebirth, while Greek myths linked the daffodil to vanity and renewal. The saffron crocus now famed for its precious spice was immortalised in Minoan frescoes more than 3,500 years ago.
Tulip Mania and the Golden Age
The 17th century saw a veritable flower revolution when tulips from the Ottoman Empire reached Europe. It caused a ‘tulip mania’ in the Netherlands, when rare flower bulbs were traded for the price of an Amsterdam canal house…until the speculative bubble burst. Yet this obsession left a lasting artistic legacy. Still-life painters such as Rachel Ruysch and Jan van Huysum beautifully captured the delicate splendour of tulips and hyacinths on canvas, turning flowers into symbols of wealth and transience.
Artists and writers in bloom
Flower bulbs have always captured the imagination. Claude Monet planted irises and tulips in his garden in Giverny, which were reflected in his world-famous water lily ponds. Vincent van Gogh’s vibrant Irises and Bulb Fields paintings represent the energy of blossoming life. Great poets such as William Wordsworth praised daffodils as “golden stars” dancing in the wind, while Emily Dickinson immortalised the hyacinth as a symbol of longing and quiet passion.
Where art, nature and people come together
Flower bulbs know no bounds. They bring colour, beauty and wonder all over the world. In the Netherlands, the Keukenhof’s sea of tulips enchants millions of visitors every year. Istanbul celebrates its botanical heritage during the annual Tulip Festival, with impressive carpets of flowers dotting the cityscape. And cities like New York and San Francisco host Tulip Days in celebration of spring, and some people partake in a bit of guerrilla gardening and plant bulbs in forgotten corners.
Connecting through flowers
Each flower bulb tells a story of myth, mania or artistic inspiration. Whether they bloom in an artistic masterpiece, a poem or your own garden: bulbs connect generations, cultures and worlds. So when you plant flower bulbs this autumn, know that you are not just planting for a colourful spring – you are reviving art and history.
