Journey North International Plant Study Spring 2006

Tulip Garden Update: April 21, 2006

Today's "Data Only" Update Includes:

This Week's Map and Data
It All Starts with the Sun: Challenge Question #12
Flowers on the Move
Blooming Excitement: They’re Tullipic!

This Week's Map and Data

Spring is arriving in the East and the West

Spring is spreading. The past week 37 gardeners reported tulips blooming in their gardens. The interior of the continent recorded 7-9 degrees warmer than average since our last report. Will the weather hold steady so the tulip blooms will last?

Come back next week when we reveal all your questions and our Expert’s answers.

This Week's Data (Reported April 15 - 21, 2006)
Slideshow (Week-by-week animation)

It All Starts with the Sun
Since January, daylight hours have increased each week in North America. (When do the days start getting shorter?) How does the sun’s energy affect springtime events? Study and compare the greening of the continent--represented in our Journey North garden map--with our spring Ruby-throated hummingbird migration maps.


Look and compare: Tulip Slideshow	Look and compare: Hummingbird Slideshow

Challenge Question #12:
“ What comparisons can you make between the blooming of tulips and the arrival of the first ruby-throated hummingbird? Which do you predict will happen first—hummingbirds arriving or tulips blooming in Nova Scotia, Canada?”

To respond to this question, please follow these instructions.

Flowers on the Move
Plants don't seem to move around much, but they are, indeed, on the move. Have you seen any evidence in your tulip garden? As your tulips begin blooming this spring, keep an eye on those flowers. Take a handy recording sheet out to the garden to help you draw parallels between plant behavior and environment.


All these are the same tulip plants. Predict the conditions for each picture.

Flowers on the Move

Blooming Excitement: They’re Tullipic!

At the Horne Street School, in Dover, NH, students were very excited to share the news of their tulips blooming (04/17). Here’s what they reported:

“Two of our tulips have bloomed today. When they bloom they look really red. They're tulllipic (terrific)! When they bloom they smell good too. When you see them bloom it's really, really exciting. We are really excited.”

The Next Tulip Garden Update Will Be Posted on April 28, 2006.