I had to go out this morning around the time I usually pick tulips (much better to pick them before it gets warm and sunny, not that there's too much danger of either here , but I live in hope). So I asked Phoebe to pick some for me.
This is the result. Whichever way you look at it - portrait or landscape - that's a lot of tulips.
I love the way she does things on a grand scale. I would have picked far fewer but then I would never have been able to create such a uniquely wonderful, extravagant, theatrical tulip moment that demanded everyone come to the kitchen to have a look.
Maybe a career dressing huge shop windows, and not just kitchen windows, beckons?
How can you possibly bear to leave the kitchen?! So magnificently beautiful!
Posted by: leilani | May 01, 2010 at 16:56
Wow - how absolutely stunning. Those tulips are so beautiful and look wonderful in your pink kitchen :) What a fabulous sight to arrive home to. It puts my two small pots of 'Carnaval de Nice' to shame!
Posted by: Emma | May 01, 2010 at 16:57
That's glorious! Phoebe knows how to make a statement.
Posted by: Cornflower | May 01, 2010 at 16:59
I love your tulip posts! I always read your blog, but never comment, this time I just had to come out of my shell and tell you how inspirational your cut tulips are. They are always stunning, my fiancé and I just bought our first house with a little garden and I can't wait to plant tulips for cutting like you do. And Phoebe definitely has a future in styling, so beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Tanis | May 01, 2010 at 17:42
AMAZING! Thank you. Well done Phoebe!
Posted by: trina | May 01, 2010 at 17:56
WOW!
Posted by: Julie | May 01, 2010 at 18:20
Spectacular...are there any left behind? I love how she was using anything to contain them
Posted by: Darci | May 01, 2010 at 18:41
I never realized before that you remove all the leaves in your bouquets. Must have been so overwhelmed by their beauty to see this !
I love tulips too, and mine here in Seattle are just finishing another glorious blooming season.
Posted by: Donna | May 01, 2010 at 18:55
Stupendous! That is an unbelievable amount of tulips. Bravo, Miss Phoebe Brocket! And that includes your baking skills as well.
Posted by: cathleen | May 01, 2010 at 19:39
That is what I would call a flower arrangement!!! How fun and how wonderful! Love the colours. Ingrid
Posted by: Ingrid | May 01, 2010 at 19:42
Wow, they are stunning. What a wonderful surprise to come home to. Great job Phoebe!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 01, 2010 at 20:20
I love visiting your blog, but I enjoy vising here during the spring the most,because of all the beautiful tulip photos! Phoebe did an awesome, awesome job. One can never have too many tulips!
Posted by: Emiko | May 01, 2010 at 21:29
I love it. Love. Way to go, Phoebe.
Posted by: Shin Ae | May 01, 2010 at 21:56
Gorgeous!!! Your tulips are truly magnificent. Whiffs of Tulipmania.
Posted by: knittingoutloud | May 01, 2010 at 22:10
How glorious. Did she run out of tulips - or run out of vases?
Posted by: m | May 01, 2010 at 22:31
That is one fantastic riot of colourful blooms in your kitchen! Phoebe is quite an inspiration, there is no doubt. Enjoy the grand scale glory and thanks for sharing it with us!
Posted by: Jessica Powers | May 01, 2010 at 22:42
Beautiful!!!! Phoebe is an inspired and inspiring, talented girl. Congratulations for such a lovely kitchen scenne.
Posted by: Su | May 01, 2010 at 23:15
Hannah is much grander than I am too. I think it's the way they've been brung up! I think we give them the confidence we wish we'd had and they blossom under those conditions and think bigger than ever we did. (I am of course speaking personally and imposing it upon you.....!)x
Posted by: Claudia | May 01, 2010 at 23:35
Phoebe certainly does have a talent for beautiful! I think you ought to go into business selling some of those gorgeous flowers. I'm only sorry I live so far away!
Posted by: Kristin | May 02, 2010 at 00:05
Wow - what a sight! And you still have more outside??
Posted by: Lisa | May 02, 2010 at 02:07
Pure happiness!
Posted by: Mady | May 02, 2010 at 03:21
What an amazing array!! I am definitely going to have to find more space to plant tulip bulbs in the fall! I'm so very envious! They are beautiful! What fun Phoebe must have had--I imagine much smiling and humming...
Posted by: Patty | May 02, 2010 at 03:32
You must plant an astounding amount of tulip bulbs in the fall!! However do you find time to do it?? I planted a couple dozen last October and didn't pick a single one this spring. I didn't want them to wither and die any more quickly than nature would dictate, as I loved my few colorful beauties so much. Yours are just incredible.
Posted by: Kathy | May 02, 2010 at 05:18
Not sure which look better these tulips or the cookies on the entry before! Both great.
Posted by: Karen | May 02, 2010 at 09:35
She does it with great style, the kitchen must have been positively a-glow.
Posted by: Rebecca | May 02, 2010 at 10:00
Gorgeous!!! A "forest" of tulips...beautiful.
Posted by: Dana | May 02, 2010 at 11:47
It's absolutely glorious!
Posted by: Account Deleted | May 02, 2010 at 13:24
What a glorious and joyful sight all those tulips must be!
Posted by: carol | May 02, 2010 at 15:33
It's a Tuliplosion!
Posted by: Desiree | May 02, 2010 at 17:39
That is an amazing display. How cheery when the day has been so gray!
Posted by: Sophie | May 02, 2010 at 17:59
I've been very envious since you started posting the tulip pictures: I have a small London garden and there's no way I could produce such an abundant supply. Mind you, I lack the green fingers so that's probably a good thing.... (Actually, my fingers are currently BLUE as I'm knitting with Rowan Denim!)
Posted by: jayne | May 02, 2010 at 18:41
Oh, how lovely!!! Gorgeous!!! The colors just sing, don't they?
Posted by: Diane | May 03, 2010 at 00:56
I sadly have only one solitary vase on display at the moment: and I love your harvest of tulips!
I learnt a tulip trick recently: drop a penny (or 2p) into the vase of water and it stops the tulips drooping: it really works!
Posted by: Julie Nelson Rhodes | May 03, 2010 at 10:35
Beautiful bouquets! I'm so glad I remembered to check your site--I'd forgotten that it's tulip time. It would be a shame to miss your beautiful spring garden.
Posted by: Jennifer W | May 03, 2010 at 18:39
I grew up with tulips and this weekend, it has been the Tulip Parade in Spalding. Well worth a visit next year if you have never been. The flower festivals in all the local churches are beautiful and the smell is - divine, but not somewhere to go if you get hay fever!!
Posted by: alisonb2 | May 03, 2010 at 19:13
Just out of curiosity - how many bulbs do you estimate you've got planted? And, do you have a very large property? I'd love to see some photos of the tulips in the garden.
Posted by: Michelle | May 03, 2010 at 22:23
Your Phoebe sounds like my Emily. It's not easy living with a strong, creative, independent girl, but it sure makes life grand.
Posted by: LoriAngela | May 04, 2010 at 00:35
Spectacular! Can I hire Phoebe to decorate my house?! Your tulips are stunning...we have a few bedraggled looking ones in the garden - a legacy from the previous owner - and inspired by your gorgeous tulip posts I went out to pick some to arrange at the weekend. I was proud of my efforts, but Phoebe has put me well and truly back in my place!
Posted by: Rachel | May 04, 2010 at 13:15
Goodness those look gorgeous! I love it!
Posted by: skirmishofwit | May 04, 2010 at 14:15
Hi Jane, sorry to be off-topic, but I just had to let you know your book has just arrived to Retrosaria and I love it. Congratulations! Hammock is my favourite :)
http://retrosaria.rosapomar.com/products/the-gentle-art-of-quilt-making-15-projects-inspired-by-everyday-beauty-by-jane-brocket
Posted by: Rosa | May 04, 2010 at 17:59
Gotta love that Phoebe!!!
She has great things ahead of her.
Posted by: Kristin Nicholas | May 04, 2010 at 20:28
Phoebe has a fantastic eye to go with her fantastic name!
Posted by: April | May 05, 2010 at 00:28
Nice work, Phoebe!! DH couldn't believe that one family grow so many tulips, he had to make a cuppa to recover ;-)
Posted by: maryannlucy | May 05, 2010 at 13:46
AMAZING tulips
Posted by: Zita Pires | May 05, 2010 at 16:11
Beautiful photo - I love the shadows made by the tulips on the table in the first photo!
Posted by: Digital-Grace | May 09, 2010 at 22:34
That is a glorious display :) Brightened my morning :)
Posted by: Rhiannon | May 12, 2010 at 14:18