Journey North International Plant Study Spring 2006

Tulip Garden Update: February 17, 2006

Today's Report Includes:

Tricked into Thinking It’s Spring?
A Treasure Trove of Maps: Challenge Question #3
Take Your Questions to the Garden
National Climate Map Detective: Challenge Question #4
Record Keeping is Key to Solving Challenge Question #2
Spotlight on the Classroom: St. Patrick's
Helpful Links

Tricked into Thinking It’s Spring?

Do YOU see a pattern emerging?

So far a total of 65 gardens have emerged. Were your tulips tricked into thinking it was spring? After last week we know how fickle weather can be this time of year! Gardeners with 2 feet of fresh snow in NY write, “The tulips are saying that spring is coming but Mother Nature hasn't heard them and is still throwing winter weather at us.”
After a warm January, gardeners in CT write, “Our class went outside to observe in the courtyard yesterday and to our horror several of the emperor tulips had emerged!” Read on to discover how this may have happened.

It’s news! The first tulips of 2006 have bloomed in Alabama. Check the map and re-think your predictions. When will spring come to YOUR garden?

A Treasure Trove of Maps



Study maps from 1999-2005

It's mid-February. How does mid-February 2006 compare to other years? Is spring early or late this year? Examine this treasure: Journey North Tulip Garden maps for the past 7 years. Can you find a map for each year that best matches this week’s map?

Comparing Spring Maps: A Look at Past Seasons
Challenge Question #3:
“ I think this week’s map matches best to ____________(date) in _________(year).”

To respond to this question, please follow these instructions.

Take Your Questions to the Garden

Imagine you are a tulip bulb underground. Draw a picture of yourself and add all the things that will help you grow. Then, thinking like a scientist, turn your ideas into questions. Finally, gather information for your own research project in your Journey North garden.

Simply print these journal pages to help you track your investigation.

Gathering Local Spring Tulip Data

National Climate Map Detective

Departure from normal temperatures in January, 2006

Weather maps contain a surprising amount of information. Use your own private eyes to uncover some of the details in this special map.

Then try this challenging question:

Challenge Question #4:
“ How much warmer/colder than average was your hometown in January, 2006? What kinds of temperature effects made your January different from other years?”

To respond to this question, please follow these instructions.

Record Keeping is Key to Solving Challenge Question #2
Classrooms across North America are wondering if spring is arriving earlier this year. We asked you, “How would you know if your tulips emerged earlier than normal? How do scientists answer this question?”
Ferrisburgh Central School fifth graders put some thought into this and wrote,

“ We would know if our tulips have emerged earlier than normal if we had planted them before. Then we would compare them to when they have emerged in the past. We think that scientists answer this question by using data from past years.”

Good thinking Daniel H., TJ S., and Emily M!

Spotlight on the Classroom: St. Patrick's

St. Patrick students

Red Ribbon Week is celebrated in many schools across North America. Its focus is on developing and supporting ways to stay healthy and drug free. One Journey North school found this to be a perfect time for planting their Red Emperor tulip garden.

During Red Ribbon Week (10/24-10/28) students from St. Patrick's School in Lincoln, Nebraska planted 150+ red tulip bulbs. Here are some of the photos they sent.

A Red Ribbon Event

Helpful Links

Tulip Garden Growth Chart
(List the events you will monitor this spring.)
Mapping Spring Tulip Garden Data
(A guide for your maps.)
Click and Print a Ready-made Student Journal
(Grade level variety available.)

The Next Tulip Garden Update Will Be Posted on February 24, 2006.