Tulips Tulips Tulips!!!!!

With the sun finally gracing our beautiful city of Chilliwack, we at Quik Pik Flowers feel our spirits lifting and look forward to the coming season as the scent of spring begins to dance around us.

One of the few ways that we know spring is just around the corner is our tulips! They start coming in to our shop by the bucket load and we can't help but smile at their bright and happy colors!

Tulips are perfect for just about everything! when going out to tea with a friend, why not bring them a cheery bunch of tulips. Funeral? bring a vase of white tulips with bear grass. Birth? Tulips. Birthday? Tulips, Company coming?Tulips!...you get the idea! Whether you prefer traditional, artistic, garden, modern or everything in between, tulips are a great choice.

Unlike regular flowers, tulips like to do what we call "bob and weave" in the vase, that is, they continue to grow after they are cut. The stems will continue to grow and the heads will grow towards light.

Though tulips are not long lasting, usually lasting about 3-7 days if properly taken care of, they are well worth it as they brighten up a room and are reasonably priced at 5.00 a bunch (5 stems in a bunch) or 3 bunches for $12.00.

Tips for Tulip care:

make sure to cut down the stems so they have room to grow, keep the water level low and change regularly. When bringing tulips home, make sure to re-cut the stems with a sharp clean knife so the drinking channels are reopened. Plant food is unnecessary for Tulips as they already love to drink and would only cause them to wilt sooner. A rather odd trick we also picked up is putting old pennies in the water, the tulips seem to love the copper. Two or three pennies is all you need! And finally, keep away from sources of heat (including direct sunlight, radiators, lamps and television sets).

Originally from Persia and Turkey, tulips were brought to Europe in the 16th century, where they got their common name from the Turkish word for gauze (with which turbans were wrapped) - reflecting the turban-like appearance of a tulip in full bloom.

Although different tulip colors carry distinct meanings - yellow tulips symbolizing cheerful thoughts, white conveying forgiveness and purple representing royalty - a Turkish legend may be responsible for the red tulip's symbolism. The story goes that a prince named Farhad was love struck by a maiden named Shirin. When Farhad learned that Shirin had been killed, he was so overcome with grief that he killed himself - riding his horse over the edge of a cliff. It's said that a scarlet tulip sprang up from each droplet of his blood, giving the red tulip the meaning "perfect love." The 11th wedding anniversary flower, it's said that the tulip’s velvety black center represents a lover's heart, darkened by the heat of passion. With the power to rival roses in their red variety and the sweet charm to express simple joy when yellow, it’s no wonder that in addition to all its other symbolism, in the language of flowers, a tulip bouquet represents elegance and grace.