Tulip Fever

In an auction held in Holland in February 1637, 99 lots of tulip bulbs fetched a staggering 90,000 guilders, more than six million pounds in today's money. This was known as Tulipmania. It was a form of futures trading, as people purchased tulip bulbs at increasingly inflated prices with the hope that they would flower into the unusual range of colours.The variety of colour  is produced by a small parasitic aphid, which weakens the plant.

This fascinating period is well documented by Anna Pavord in her book "The Tulip" . There is a fictional account in  "Tulip Fever" by Deborah Moggach. Both are worth reading.

Jobs for this week

 The garden is still very wet and needs a tidy-up. The hens have been out and about and explored some of the pots of tulips.One of the pots was on its side and the tulip buds growing at right angles. Even though I've righted the pot the tulips may have a kink in them -perhaps we could start a new trend.....

Lots of jobs still to be done. Here are just a few:

* Root cuttings of perennials including crambe cordifolia

* Move shrubs and divide perennials.

* Cut back perennials and grasses from last year

* Weed and mulch