Raindrops on Tulips

It’s been raining a lot over the past few weeks here in Southeastern Ontario. On the whole, this is a good thing – there was less snow cover than usual this past winter and back in March we were concerned about what that could mean for our well, let alone the garden. So I have learned never to complain about rain, even in May, when the window for getting the garden up and running is quite narrow. When I saw that this week’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge was “Focusing on the Details,” I thought it was a great excuse to get outside and, in between showers, try and capture some raindrops on everyone’s favourite spring bulb.

Some tulips are just as striking as they start to fade away as they are at the height of their glory. This heirloom Fosteriana type is ‘Red Emperor.’

Another red tulip, new to me this year, is the Greigii variety, ”Toronto.’

This is Kaufmanniana ‘Stresa’ – it’s a shorter variety and one of the first to bloom.

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Two varieties just starting to open (if the sun comes out again…) – ‘Pittsburgh Triumph’ on the left and an unknown orangey-peachey one.

One of my top three this year – and the most unlikely – a small pink tulip bought at a discount grocery store three weeks ago – STILL blooming!

Finally, another favourite, Fosteriana ‘Exotic Emperor.’ The shape of these white petals, plus the green flamed outer petal make it unique and quite striking either en masse or as a single specimen.