April in Istanbul is tulip time; parks, squares and roadsides all revel in the bright colours of these cup-shaped flowers.
The word tulip, is believed to derive from the Ottoman Turkish tülbend (“muslin” or “gauze”), and may be ultimately derived from the Persian delband (“turban”). This etymology may be due to the perceived resemblance between the shape of a tulip flower and that of a turban. Equally, it may date back to the fashion of wearing tulips on turbans in the Ottoman Empire.
Tulips are called lale in Turkish. When written in Arabic letters, “lale” has the same letters as Allah, which is why the flower became a holy symbol.
The tulip figures frequently in Persian verse, where its red color symbolises the blood of martyrs and the fire of love. In Turkey, tulips are associated with the delicate refinement and luxury that characterized the Ottoman Empire at the height of its power.
The month long Tulip festival makes April the perfect month to visit Istanbul: you get the added beauty and colour of the tulips and you also beat the oppressive summer heat. The complex and magnificent displays in Gülhane Park have to be on your to do list.
This now public park used to be part of the gardens of the Topkapi Palace and, ironically at this time of year, its name means rosehouse.
Even at the very end of the month, the displays were still impressive, though as I took one last walk through yesterday morning, they were just getting ready to replant some of the beds.
Travel with Intent 
These are wonderful shots, Debbie. It’s good to see that tulips are getting special attention in Istanbul, in their “home country” so to speak. We’re always used to associating them with Holland.
Many thanks for participating in Floral Friday Fotos. Your input is appreciated.
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Very interesting and beautiful!
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Wonderful set of pics; I especially like the macro shots. We were in Istanbul several years ago and were surprised to hear how important tulips were. However, it was way past their time, but your shots have confirmed what our tour guode related. Thank you!
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Lovely photos. So colourful
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Wow ! Thanks for all this information ! And the pictures are great too !
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I LOVE tulips! Your history is quite interesting; I never knew that. Your pictures are so beautiful. I would just love to be in the middle of all that! 🙂
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You can’t go wrong with tulips, I’ll say:):) Love the yellow – blue/purple combination. I have heard that tulip bulbs (for the first time) were imported from Russia…
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Looks fantastic Debs. What a great time to be there xx
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Oh, it was! It was kind of planned.
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Oh Debbie, your photos are so very beautiful!!! 🙂
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So beautiful!
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Wow Debbie. I want to be there! From one tulipolic (my word) to another, best wishes 🙂 http://wp.me/p3gSod-23Z
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And they really did look better in real life. Sounds like you need to put Istanbul in your diary for next April!
On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 3:28 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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Beautiful !
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That’s an unusual subject for symbolism! Thank you for the education. Now I shall have to return to Istanbul a third time to see the tulips! 🙂
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Not too much of a hardship. It’ a great city, isn’t it?
On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 2:13 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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One of my favourites!
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And I walk fast 🙂
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P.S. It is also called “lala” in Serbian, and Bosnian.
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That is interesting. Apart from the Turkish words of very obvious French origin, I didn’t come across many words that I could recognise. Lala and lale sound mor beautiful than the harsher tulip.
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In Croatian we call them “tulipan”
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and the same in Slovak, which I just looked up because I’ll be there on Monday! 🙂
On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 11:40 AM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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😀 I know you will. When are you coming back?
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I arrive Sunday late afternoon and leave Tuesday morning for Salzburg. So Monday will be a busy day!
On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 11:46 AM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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Salzburg is lovely. Is it a leisure trip?
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Business 😦 I get a few free hours when I arrive, plus a free evening, the rest is conference and even a conference dinner.
On Thu, Apr 30, 2015 at 12:00 PM, Travel with Intent wrote:
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You don’t need much time to see Bratislava or Salzburg. Well, you can always use more time, but these two towns are manageable.
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Oh Debbie, this is wonderful… that first photo with colours, composition and perspective is something else!
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Glad you like it! The woman is holding out her hand waiting for someone to pull her out of the tulips!
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😀
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These are really so pretty 🙂
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