Tulipa Duc Van Tol "Rose"

After a restless night with an ill son I spent an hour or two with this beauty for some much needed flower photography therapy.

I've been waiting in anticipation since I planted this historic rare tulip bulb last November. Sadly, it actually flowered on Friday but I simply didn't have the chance to photograph it until today so it had already lost it's classic tulip shape. It's a beautiful, delicate flower regardless.

Short, sweet, and extra-early, the ‘Duc van Tols’ grew in every stylish garden from about 1600 to 1900 but then tall, late tulips came into vogue, and the ‘Ducs’ all but vanished. Perfect little miniatures, they’re the earliest traditional garden tulips to bloom each spring. The ‘Rose’ is an innocent white that’s blushed with a little more pink every day it’s open.