It’s Tulip Time in Arundel!
For those of us of a certain *ahem* age, hearing the word ‘tulips’ can tempt us to start singing Max Bygrave’s 1958 hit, ‘Tulips from Amsterdam’. The opening lines of that great British entertainer’s song start, ‘When its spring again, I’ll bring again, Tulips from Amsterdam’.
Mr Bygraves could oh-so easily have been singing about Arundel because when it’s spring again, the tulips arrive…in Arundel.
In Arundel Castle gardens, you can walk around the Tulip Festival from early April onwards but this may even be earlier depending on the weather. Tulips burst forth from herbaceous borders, spill over containers and create an unusual, striking display in the Castle’s grass labyrinth.
Where can I see tulips in Arundel?
If you want to enjoy the tulip season, Arundel is the place to be in the UK. Arundel Castle’s head gardener, Martin Duncan, who launched the Tulip Festival, with support from the Duke and Duchess and their family, has certainly been very busy as Martin and his team of Arundel Castle gardeners have planted over 110 000 tulips for the Festival!
Set against the stunning backdrop of Arundel Castle, the gardeners have created a colour-filled Festival like no other. Over 30 000 tulips will be covering the castle banks and you can see many different varieties including Red, Oxford, Apeldoorn and Ile de France tulips.
The terracotta pots will be full to overflowing with colour. The spectacular displays will also sweep across the flower beds.
The Antler Temple boasts a beautiful display of tulips inside and out so this spectacular feature is an absolute must to see!
The Tulip Festival can’t be matched anywhere else and the commencement of this
years’ festival will be announced here.
During the annual Arundel Castle Tulip Festival, the tulips burst into bloom from bulbs, which have slept soundly underground throughout the winter months. The coloured flowers catch our attention, and their colourful names capture our imagination.
Can you spot the Purple Prince, Curly Sue, Black Parrot, Flaming Flag, or Orange Emperor? Which tulip do you think is the Queen of the Night? We’ll give you a clue… look for the tulip flower so dark it almost looks black.
If you think it’s only tulips which will be growing in the garden when you visit, then think again! There is a Stumpery which provides such a wonderful habitat for the bugs and beetles to live in. The lavender
hedging and mixed herb edges will surround you with their fragrance and the bees and other insects love to visit them.
The cleverly pruned step over apples, yew cones and balls add a simple but striking formality to the organic Kitchen Garden so do make sure you see these too!
Where do tulips get their name?
Have you ever noticed that tulip flowers are symmetrical? It is thought their name comes from the Persian word for turban, which the flower heads are thought to resemble.
Tulips, the bright, show-stopping flower in spring’s colour palette, originally grew in areas stretching from Southern Europe to Central Asia. From the 17th century onwards, tulips were popular throughout western Europe. So popular in fact that tulip bulbs were traded like stocks and shares.
Apeldoorn’s Elite Tulip
In 1636, stock exchanges dealt in tulip bulbs. Fortunes were made and lost as the price of tulip bulbs rose and then plummeted. Some people sold their land, valuables – and even houses – to invest in the tulip bulb market. In 1637, at the peak of the tulip bulb trading bubble, some single bulbs sold for more than ten times a skilled craftsman’s annual income!
Today, you can buy tulip bulbs cheaply, but their stunning spring show is priceless. With more than 150 species and 3,000 different varieties, there is a tulip for everyone. They are the 11th wedding anniversary flower and are often used in gift bouquets to send messages of love and best wishes. But be careful! Different tulip colours have different meanings.
Read on for our guide to choosing the right tulip for what you want to say…
- White tulips symbolise forgiveness, respect, purity and honour.
- Bright yellow tulips mean hope and cheerfulness.
- If you want to send a message of deep love, choose red tulips, which symbolise eternal love and passion.
- Pink tulips represent affection, caring, good wishes and love.
Purple tulips are resplendent against their green stalk – and they still signify elegance and royalty. For centuries, purple dye, which could only be made from a crushed Mediterranean sea snail, was a luxury that only the seriously wealthy could afford. Purple became a signifier of status, so much so that in the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I inscribed rules governing who was permitted to wear purple into English law.
Tips for growing tulips from Arundel Castle’s head gardener
Striking display in the Castle’s grass labyrinth
Arundel Castle’s head gardener Martin Duncan, who launched the Tulip Festival, with support from the Duke and Duchess and their family, shares his top tulip growing tips with us:
- It is best to plant tulip bulbs in November so they do not rot in the ground.
- If you are growing tulips in pots, make sure you water them regularly, so they do not dry out.
- Tulips like half shade and half sunshine, so plant them in an area when they can ideally have both.
- Whether you plant your tulips in a pot or the ground, make sure you plant the bulbs 4″ deep. This helps tulips grow back year after year.
Arundel Castle head gardener’s top tulip picks
If Martin has to choose two favourite tulip varieties, he will suggest –
- Apeldoorn: a hardy bulb that returns year after year
- Angélique: which has a gorgeous pink bloom and looks like a peony.
Foxtrot Tulip
When is the best time to see tulips in Arundel Castle?
To see Arundel tulips at their absolute best, you should plan to visit from early April. This is when you will be able to enjoy tulips throughout the castle gardens.
Because Arundel Castle is home to such a huge variety of tulip varieties, the floral display will continue for a few weeks. The best way to make sure you see the tulips in bloom is to check out the Arundel Castle website and their socials (https://www.arundelcastle.org) for more information.
Are you ready to sing now? Do you remember the start of this blog? And are you old/young enough to remember the wonderful Max Bygraves? Come on, join in…
With a heart that’s true,
I’ll bring to you,
Tulips from Arundel
Written by Barb Hogan, Visit Arundel
Photos by Charlie Waring & Arundel Castle
With thanks to Arundel Castle and Head Gardener Martin Duncan
