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See the tulip that cost as much as a small house, more than 10 years' pay for a skilled craftsman at the time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania
"...what about the almost mythical Semper August and Viceroy bulbs...? Unfortunately their extraordinary beauty arose from a viral infection which 'breaks' the single block of colour normally borne on tulips, adding a stunning striation of white or yellow coloured strips. As beautiful as this effect is, there is a terrible down side due to the harmful effects of the virus.... Eventually the bulb has no strength left to flower eventually withering to nothing, and ending the genetic line. It's for this reason alone that the famous, colour broken Semper August and Viceroy bulbs no longer exist.
Of course you can buy modern replicas of these historic tulips which have been specifically bred to be similar in colour and pattern but without the destructive viral side effects. They are not as sublime as the originals but that are at least able to give a hint of what the dutch speculators went overboard for. Varieties to look out for are from the Rembrant and Viridiflora ranges."
http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/20...ge-semper.html
http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Estell...N%3DB00405GJCO
http://www.dutchgardens.com/detail.asp?pid=6727
http://www.dutchgardens.com/detail.asp?pid=6726
http://www.dutchmillbulbs.com/catalo...showprevnext=1
Lots of tulips and other bulbs going for really cheap at end of the season sales like at Wayside now.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania
"...what about the almost mythical Semper August and Viceroy bulbs...? Unfortunately their extraordinary beauty arose from a viral infection which 'breaks' the single block of colour normally borne on tulips, adding a stunning striation of white or yellow coloured strips. As beautiful as this effect is, there is a terrible down side due to the harmful effects of the virus.... Eventually the bulb has no strength left to flower eventually withering to nothing, and ending the genetic line. It's for this reason alone that the famous, colour broken Semper August and Viceroy bulbs no longer exist.
Of course you can buy modern replicas of these historic tulips which have been specifically bred to be similar in colour and pattern but without the destructive viral side effects. They are not as sublime as the originals but that are at least able to give a hint of what the dutch speculators went overboard for. Varieties to look out for are from the Rembrant and Viridiflora ranges."
http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/20...ge-semper.html
http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Estell...N%3DB00405GJCO
http://www.dutchgardens.com/detail.asp?pid=6727
http://www.dutchgardens.com/detail.asp?pid=6726
http://www.dutchmillbulbs.com/catalo...showprevnext=1
Lots of tulips and other bulbs going for really cheap at end of the season sales like at Wayside now.