Tulipa: A Photographer's Botanical

In recent years, my approach to planting tulips and other small spring-flowering bulbs has been to dig down to the core ground underneath the raised bed I use for flowers, line the bed with composted cow manure laced with bone meal, and toss the bulbs in, letting them lie where they land. I usually buy an assortment of my favorite tulips including Negrita and Queen of the Night which I mix up, so come spring, I have a nice surprise when they emerge, but I cannot always tell which tulip is which. TULIPA by Baker and Lemmers will help me solve some of the mystery. With hundreds of tulip photographs I can use in the identity parade, plus some descriptive text, I should be able to sort out the riot of colors come spring. TULIPA is an exquisite art book, in which the authors have used the Netherlandish floral paintings of the Golden Age for inspiration for their photographs. Tulips are featured in all their splendor, many owing a single page, while others are arranged around a page as if in a loose bouquet. Some are open ala Georgia O'Keefe, others closed demurely. The text of the book is sparse, with short essays by Michael Pollen, editor and garden author; Christopher Baker, photographer; and William Lemmers , member of the Tulip Committee of the Royal Bulb Growers Association (KAVB) and the Royal Horticultural Society in London. Lacey frilly, and in some cases not unlike an ice cream sundae. What's not to like about tulips? Given it's price, this is not the book to buy if you only want a practical guide to growing tulips, but it will make a lovely addition to your art library.

This is not a practical "how to" book of gardening, but it is a simply gorgeous book to look through nonetheless. An excellant addition for an avid tulip enthusiast who likes to collect books on subject. Contains a comprehensive listing of tulips and has close-up pictures of many types not usually pictured in other tulip books. Gives historical information that is interesting but not really useful. Makes a great book for your coffee table and even my friends who don't garden always enjoy looking through this book. I rate it 5 stars because I think it is a beautiful book, but I do think it is over-priced and if you are looking for a book to give you practical tips on planting bulbs, this is not for you.

In all of my years, I have never seen quite a unique and exquisite celebration of the maginificence of these natural wonders. Christopher Baker's eye portray's the simple elegance of these flowers with a passion that is fascinating. One can hardly appreciate the vast array of the tulips' varieties, surely never seen before. I congratulate Christopher on this masterful and clearly personal gift of his life's passion. The photography is gracefully complemented by reverant prose that both leaves much to the imagination, but skillfully engrosses the reader in these magical creations. I can only say this, while a rose may always be a rose, every tulip, since this wonderful publication, is truly it's own incarnation. Thank you, Mr. Baker.