Brilliant tulips and Turkish culture at Tulipmania: Origins of the Tulip.
To paraphrase Gardens by the Bay’s official event page, tulips are back at the Flower Dome but this year, they come with a twist.
Instead of windmills and Dutch houses, i.e., what everyone associates the vibrant bulbs with, the country of focus this time round is Türkiye. Historically, tulips are native to the Near East and Central Asia, and are believed to have first been cultivated in Eastern Türkiye almost a millennium ago.
It provides for a different visiting experience, one that is no less beautiful and certainly very exotic and even a little mysterious. I confess I always thought tulips were “Northern European flowers” too, and so seeing different varieties of them adorn Turkish art and landmarks was a refreshing change. Educational as well, of course. I finally learned that tulips are actually the national flower of Türkiye.
As for the highlight of this floral display, i.e., the hot-air balloons meant to invoke impressions of Cappadocia, to be honest, I was a little bit unsure about these when I first read about them. But it appears the case that GBTB has found the correct sizes and way to present these.
They seen a little too fun fair-like at first sight. But viewed from certain angles, they complete the picturesque landscape painted by the colourful tulips.
Tulipmania: Origins of the Tulip Pictures
By the way, if you share your best pictures of Tulipmania: Origins of the Tulip on Instagram, you stand to win a pair of air tickets to Istanbul. Courtesy of Turkish Airlines. Details here!
Landmarks and Icons of Eastern Türkiye
Like many preceding Flower Dome floral exhibitions, Tulipmania: Origins of the Tulip features miniatures of famous Eastern Türkiye landmarks.
Tulipmania: Origins of the Tulip ends on May 21, 2023. Admission fees to the Flower Dome applies. The dome is open from 9 am to 9 pm, with last entry at 8.30 pm.
My other Singapore events posts.
