Tulipa

     Flowers are often set aside as silly frivolities, barely worth having besides for aesthetic beauty. But any good gardener knows that a true flower is one worth having so long as it is more than simple a flower. The tulip is just that. The average person may think of it as a nice bloom, or maybe they associate it with the dutch, which justly it should be. However there far more to this beautiful flower than that. It began in turkey. Where the tulip naturally grew and was cultivated and loved as a symbol of power for hundreds of years by a number of sultans. However while its homeland reveled in its beauty it captured the hearts and minds of the Europeans, particularly the dutch traders who dealt in spices. They brought these small bulbs back with them from these exotic lands in the east, at first curiosities, but very soon they became much more. Tulips became incredibly valuable, their prices sky rocketed, the most desired of fantastic patterns often bringing the average salary of a mans yearly labors. thousands upon thousands were imported to what at the time was one of the most wealthy and um in coming nations. Then tulip mania ended, the bubble had burst, all that had been invested in these precious bulbs was worthless when you didn't have enough money to feed your family. So they ate the bulbs. Only saving the best which would become their livelihood. On all accounts tulips have quite a repugnant taste, aren't very nutritious,  and must be prepared properly.So do further research if you want to eat them, there are recopies. After the economic collapse people in the Netherlands began to farm them, and the nation grew powerful again. As time passed new evils rose, Nazi Germany took the country and what did they eat? Tulips! Thus they live on just as the Dutch have, and are a prided part of their culture and traditions. A blessing in their folly if you will