Crocus Flower

A few days ago sipping a morning coffee I spotted in a pot on the windowsill the first flower released of my crocuses.

I bought it for a few quids in my local Lidl. Nine bulbs, some soil and porcelain pot placed on the saucer imported from Holland.

This nicely presented set reminded me the story of the one of the most expensive plant in human history, the Semper Augustus tulip variety. 

In the 17th-century, some people after contact with Semper Augustus tulip decided to invest their future in breeding flowers. In nowadays flowers imported from Holland are the fruits of knowledge and abilities practiced by Dutch gardeners from hundreds of years.

At the beginning of 17th-century after long voayge from Turkey sailing ships reached Netherlands with infected tulip bulbs called Semper Augustus (always August). In 1637 the bulb of this tulip reached a staggering price of 10 thousand guilders as much as at that time cost the grand house on the most fashionable canal in Amsterdam.  Some selling this beautiful plant earned a fortune others sold their own houses, animals and land invested money in bulbs and leading to ruin. Many merchants lost all of their money and more in less than a week. This was the end of tulip mania, the end of the huge prices that people pay for one bulb of the Semper Augustus tulip.
It is now known that the beauty effect of Semper Augustus tulip is due to the bulbs being infected with a type of tulip-specific mosaic virus, known as the 'Tulip breaking virus'. The virus 'breaks' the single block of colour displayed on tulips. The effect of 'breaking' are beautiful white or yellow stripes.

First flowers of my crocuses

Such is the power of beautiful plants. People always desirable them. I would really like to grow Semper Augustus tulip but that variety never longer exist. I'm left little hope that someday get my hands on infected tulip bulb and will watch how it will grow on my windowsill as almost 400 years ago, people strolling through the streets of Amsterdam stared curiously at the windows of the lucky ones who keep this beautiful plant on their windowsill.

The beauty of Semper Augustus tulip.

Anonymous 17th-century watercolor of the Semper Augustus, famous for being the most expensive tulip sold during tulip mania.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania

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