Focusing on tulips, this is one of a series in which each book is devoted to the enjoyment and cultivation of a specific flowering plant and presented in three sections - history, flower directory, and care and cultivation. Having originated in Turkey and Central Asia - the name tulip comes from the Turkish word for turban - these colourful and graceful plants were imported into Europe and the New World in the 17th century. They display a remarkable diversity of shapes and colours, and more than 80 varieties are described in this book, grouped according to the latest classification. Cultivation details are explained, from information about soil and planting, to storing bulbs and increasing blooms. Ann Bonar has written more than 30 books on gardening, including A Seasonal Guide to the Flower Garden and Gardening for Fragrance .