Tulip Fields in The Netherlands. Tulips come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as an array of

Tulip Fields in The Netherlands.Tulips come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as an array of colours: red, pink, yellow, orange purple, in fact there are 1,700 varieties of tulips!! But did you know, that about 80% of them come from the Netherlands?Today over 3 billion tulip bulbs are cultivated in Holland, 2 billion of which are exported; with the United States of America being the top importer, taking around 1 billion a year!!Contrary to belief, tulips are not actually native to the Netherlands. They are usually found in high altitude areas, where during the winter thick layers of snow offer them good protection from the severe cold. This natural preference of tulips for higher altitudes, makes it all the more remarkable that the Dutch became known for growing them! The Netherlands is largely situated below sea-level and their winters are more wet than cold!The ability to achieve such yields of tulips is a result of the soil type and climate of the region. The soils are often a sandy loam and offer good soil drainage, this ensures the bulbs do not rot from saturation. The relatively temperate climate is also a benefit giving sunlight, mild temperatures and sufficient rainfall.If you ever find yourself in the Netherlands, try head on down to Keukenhof (“Kitchen garden”), it is situated near Lisse and is the world’s largest flower garden, with more than 7 million flower tulip bulb planted annually!Keukenhof is open from the last week in March to mid-May. The best time to view the tulips is around mid-April.-JeanFor more information: http://www.keukenhof.nl/This photo was taken in the former municipality of Anna Paulowna in North Holland. As of January 1, 2012, Anna Paulowna along with three other municipalities were all merged into a new municipality called Hollands Kroon.To see more images, go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bruxelles5/sets/72157626454113099/ -- source link

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