Da Mei & Wen Lin (Chinese, 20th C.) "Pink Tulip" Original Watercolor painting on Rice Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the U.S. 29c (F) Tulip booklet stamp issued January 22, 1991. A new tulip is cause for rejoicing among the gardening public, but few tulip aficionados realize that the hybridization process which produces their prized bloom may span two decades. Modern master hybridizers create new flowers in much the same way canine breeders create champions. They select parent flowers with proven track records -- flowers which display good color, interesting pattern, disease resistance and hardiness. Hybridizers then trim the mother plant to prevent self-pollination and meticulously brush pollen from the chosen father across the female pistil. Within four months the resulting seed pod may yield two to three hundred seeds, which emerge the following year as grass-like seedlings. The plants usually produce their first flower in the fifth year. If the new blooms show promise, the proud creator must then test his plants for an additional few years before submitting the hybrids to the Dutch Royal General Bulbgrowers' Association for inclusion into the international register of tulips. When enough new bulbs have been produced to satisfy projected demand, the new tulip is ready for sale. Image Size: 11.75 x 10.5 in. Overall Size: 14.25 x 12.25 in. Unframed. (B12972)