"Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world."

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tulips Of Three (Select Image or Title To See In A Larger Format)

Tulips Of ThreeTulips of three standing together

Tulips were not always multi-colored. A virus caused many colors to form in tulips; the tulip breaking virus (TTBV). There are two varieties of the virus. These are the mild tulip breaking virus (MTBV) and the severe tulip breaking virus (STBC).

The virus infects the bulb causing the cultivar to "break" its lock on a single color. This results in intricate bars, stripes, streaks, featherings or flame-like on the petals.

Today, many of the colors are sought out through cultivation. There are few "broken" varieties such as the "zomerschoon".

Nevertheless, these flowers provide a lesson: There is beauty even in the "broken" among us.

Be a part of current Made From RI Gallery projects:

© Keith R Wahl, Made From RI/Made From RI Gallery, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keith R Wahl and Made From RI/Made From RI Gallery with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.