Chemical tulips gladden the heart

I arrived home on this sunny evening to find these rich purple tulips suddenly in full bloom. A few years ago, chemical giant SABIC sent out a box of Dutch tulip and amaryllis bulbs to all of its customers and friends to celebrate the purchase of the Dutch company DSM Petrochemicals in 2002, and now the tulips come out every spring as a cheerful reminder of the company’s largesse. My colleague Philippa planted some too, but then lost contact with them when she moved house.