18-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Wednesday, October 8, 1913:
10/6 – 10/8: I’ve husked about ten loads of corn by this time. My hands are sore and roughened, but I didn’t care very much. I’m thinking of what I’m earning.
Her middle-aged granddaughter’s comments 100 years later:
Since Grandma didn’t write a diary entry specific for this date, I’m going to go off on a tangent—
I found this advertisement for tulip bulbs in the September, 1913 issue of McCalls magazine. I wondered if I could buy these old varieties so I googled them. Here’s what I found:
Crimson King
Nothing popped up when I googled “Crimson King tulip”. I wonder if the Crimson King tulip and the Red Emperor tulip are slightly different names for the same variety. The Red Emperor tulips are so common today.
White Queen
I couldn’t find any place where I could buy the White Queen tulip, but I did find a photo of them on The Tulip Gallery website.
Yellow Prince
I found a picture of the Yellow Prince tulip on the Old House Gardens Heirloom Bulbs website—though I don’t think that they had any bulbs available for sale this year.
Cottage Maid
I couldn’t find any place where I could buy the Cottage Maid tulip, but I did find a photo of them on the Hortus Tulipus Old Tulips website.
Keiser’s Kroon
The Keiser’s Kroon tulip is still sold by several companies—though it generally goes by its Dutch name, Keizerskroon. One source for the bulbs is Old House Gardens Heirloom Bulbs.
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A Hundred Years Ago 
These are beautiful. I’m reading the book Tulipomania right now. They have a fascinating history. I had no idea.
I’ve heard of the “tulip bubble”. It’s amazing the things that investors sometimes think have lots of value.
Wonderful photos…the White Queen tulips being my favorite 🙂
I really like the White Queens, too.
Fascinating to see which bulbs are still available. Fashions in flowers change almost as much as fashion in clothing.
They sure do. It’s kind of fun seeing some of the old flowers like hydrangeas and zinnias again becoming popular.
🙂
My mom always told me that tulips were my dad’s favorite flower (he passed away when I was an infant.) Oddly enough, my mom never planted tulips, and I haven’t either…
Interesting. . . Maybe tulips made her feel sad because they reminded her of him.
I just absolutely LOVE tulips. Beautiful photos.
So do I. Writing this post reminded me that I want to plant some more tulips this fall, and that I’ve got to go to the store and buy some.
I love the research you share when you compare and contrast today’s times to 100 years ago.
I love that too Joanne…she makes it so interesting!
Thank you! I have fun doing the research, and it’s wonderful to hear when someone enjoys it.
Beautiful flowers! Tulips are my favorite 🙂
They are beautiful!
I love those dark purple, almost black tulips…any idea what they’re called?
I think they are Queen of the Night tulips. A picture of them is on the Breck Bulbs site:
http://www.brecks.com/product/Queen_of_Night_Tulip/Tulip_Flower_Bulbs
Yes. thank you. They’re gorgeous, aren’t they?
Sheryl, what a beautiful tangent you took us on!
Blessings ~ Wendy
I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
It makes me sad that so many of them are no longer available! They really are all so lovely . . .
I wonder why they’ve apparently been replaced by other varieties over the years. . . were they less hardy than modern varieties? .. . more susceptible to diseases? . . . no longer considered fashionable? .
It is that time of year to plant tulips so I really enjoyed your tangent 🙂 Annie
I need to plant some more tulips this fall. Many of my tulips have died out over the years (probably because I forgot to periodically dig them up and divide the bulbs).
Beautiful and wonderful – I so love tulips!
Thank you!
Interesting that you researched the heirlooms. It’s sad to think what we’ve lost.
It is sad how many of the heirlooms seem to have almost vanished.
Thanks so much for searching all these out and giving us a look at what must have been in our grandparents’ gardens. I definitely remember Kaiser’s Crown! It reminds me of my grandpa Burr.
I think that I saw them (or a very similar variety) for sale at a local store a couple weeks ago. I’m thinking about going back and buying a package of them.
There is nothing so elegant as white tulips on the table! I love those White Queens!
I agree– White tulips (as well as many other white flowers) are very elegant.
Tulips are pretty and they remind me of Holland 🙂
I’d love to see the fields of tulips in Holland some day.
miles and miles of tulips, it is pretty 🙂
My sister-ilaw orders them by the dozens. I adore the pastel ones. At our last house I planted early and late blooming in piles of pink, yellow and mauve…..I miss them.
It sounds beautiful. I’ve never seen your previous home–but your description almost makes me miss them, too.:)
I really should try and post some oldie but goodies. I had some in this post a long while back. No tulips though, wrong time of year.
http://boomdeeadda.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/gone-but-not-forgotten/
Thanks for sharing the link. The gardens are beautiful
Thanks for the cheer. I do think my next home will have much less. I’m a lazy gardener at this age..LOL
This posting turns out to be beautiful. Thanks.
I’m glad you enjoyed it.