ca. 1936. Bulb grower Karl Koehler, Sr. (at far right) with four women in a tulip field at Orting, circa 1936. His wife Elsie, who he married in 1919 in Parkland, is facing the camera at far left. The tulip flowers are in bloom and stand waist-to-thigh high on the admiring group. Mr. Koehler had come to Orting in 1890 where he engaged in raising hops and later dairying before going into the bulb industry. He imported his bulbs from Holland and experimented constantly to develop his own species. Mr. Koehler eventually had more than 800 varieties. Using his eye for beauty, he planted his bulbs so that the colors would harmonize and the blooms, according to the News Tribune, would appear in rotation to present a rainbow effect. This would continue the entire growing season. Mr. Koehler would pass away at age 68 in Tacoma leaving his wife Elsie, son Karl Jr., and daughters Louise and Helene besides four siblings. (T.Times 10-28-1942, p. 1-obit.; TNT 10-28-1942, p. 12-obit.) (Identification provided by a family member)
Koehler, Karl; Koehler, Elsie; Tulips--Orting;