Turks 'n' Tulips

Let's play a word association game. I'll name a flower and you name its country. Ready?
Rose
Jasmine
Crysanthemum
Heather
Poppy
Tulip
You did really well on the first five, although in allowing Oz for the second last, I was a little lax. China or Afghanistan would have been more acceptable.
But Holland for the tulip? I think not! Tulips originated in Turkey, my dear, and were brought to the Low Countries by enterprising Dutchmen. In fact, the trade in tulip futures is thought to be the first example of an economic bubble and collapse. At the peak of the frenzy, a single bulb cost as much as a house or a small farm, and when the things kept multiplying on their own, the bottom fell out and people were left with a lot of bulbs and no home. But I digress.
Unlike you, dear reader, Turkey still thinks of itself as the tulip capital of the world. Every fall, Itstanbul alone plants three million bulbs in scores of varieties and this week, they're at their peak. Friend Merril and I took a trip to Emirgan Park to see a few tens of thousands of them, and it was a treat. Since Merril has already used my favourite shot of the bright red ones, I am going to use one with her in it.
Pictured here is a group of women who boldly clambered over the fence in order to take a group photo amongst some blooms. Merril offered to take the shot for them so that the photographer could be in it. You can see that a guard has caught them in the act and told them to get out. The woman just to the left of centre is having none of it. A few seconds later, while the guard continues to ask them to get off the grass, a second woman hands Merril her camera. For a bit, women alternate arguing with the guard and smiling at the camera. As M. and I walk away, the group gets to its collective feet and prepares to move on, all the while berating the poor guard. It was one of those situations where no language was required. I loved the contrast between the conservative Muslim garb and the balsy behaviour.
Ah, tulips!