Test Gardens Track Seasons

How can a handful of tulip bulbs help us understand climate and seasons across the Northern Hemisphere?

Photo of students holding up tulip bulbs ready to plant — Students getting ready to plant in Oceanside, New York. Photo by Julie McGahen

Tracking Change with Tulips
Each fall, people across the Northern Hemisphere plant Red Emperor tulips to help monitor seasonal change in a scientific way. In the spring, when the plants emerge and bloom, gardeners report their data to the maps. One garden at a time, the relationship between climate, geography and the greening of spring is revealed.

How to Participate: Step-by-Step Guide

Image of students planting bulbs and message for free bulbs

Free Bulbs for New Gardens!

Tracking A Sign of Spring

Springtime events occur at different times in different places. Track Test Gardens to discover how different climate conditions affect plant growth.

Tracking a Sign of Spring
Exploring climate and plant growth around the globe.

Daylight increases. Birds sing. Tulips emerge. When and where do these springtime events occur around the globe? Photo credit Melissa Anisel.

Signs of Spring
Daylight increases. Birds sing. Tulips emerge. When and where do these springtime events occur around the globe? Photo credit Melissa Anisel.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the first official day of spring occurs on the equinox around the 20th of March. Where are plants emerging or blooming at this time of year?

When is Spring?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the first official day of spring occurs on the equinox around the 20th of March. Where are plants emerging or blooming at this time of year?

Wet, dry, cold, hot, windy, calm. How do different climate conditions affect where, when, and how plants grow? Photo credit JoyAnne Hamilton, Shageluk, Alaska.

How Does Climate Affect Plant Growth?
Wet, dry, cold, hot, windy, calm. How do different climate conditions affect where, when, and how plants grow? Photo credit JoyAnne Hamilton, Shageluk, Alaska.

Hundreds of kids across the Northern Hemisphere plant tulip bulbs in Test Gardens. They predict when and where tulips will emerge and bloom in their own gardens and across the globe.

Tulip Test Gardens
Hundreds of kids across the Northern Hemisphere plant tulip bulbs in Test Gardens. They predict when and where tulips will emerge and bloom in their own gardens and across the globe.

When students report from their garden — planting, emergence, or bloom — the record appears on the Journey North Test Garden map. One garden at a time, tulips emerge and the map tracks the wave of spring across the Northern Hemisphere.

Tracking the Spring Season
When students report from their garden — planting, emergence, or bloom — the record appears on the Journey North Test Garden map. One garden at a time, tulips emerge and the map tracks the wave of spring across the Northern Hemisphere.

Plant a Journey North tulip Test Garden this fall! Meet gardeners from places near and far to explore how different climate conditions affect plant growth. Predict which gardens will be the first and last to emerge and bloom. Photo credit Audrey Albrecht.

Dig In!
Plant a Journey North tulip Test Garden this fall! Meet gardeners from places near and far to explore how different climate conditions affect plant growth. Predict which gardens will be the first and last to emerge and bloom. Photo credit Audrey Albrecht.

Test Gardens Track Seasons

Free Bulbs for New Gardens!

Tracking A Sign of Spring

Companion Resources

Tulip Maps Fall 2017

North America

Report Your Sightings

Eurasia