Journey North International Plant Study Spring 2006

Tulip Garden Update: April 28, 2006

Today's Update Includes:

This Week's Map and Data
Patterns of Bloom
Mystery in the Fridge: Challenge Question #13
Exploring the Natural World: Journal in Hand
Challenge Question #14
Spotlight on Tulip Gardeners
Questions Answered by Tulip Expert

This Week's Map and Data

Spring is arriving in the East and the West

Lots of RED on this week’s tulip garden map. Average temperatures on the cool side are still holding back the tulips in the north and the west coast. When will the rest of our gardens emerge?

This Week's Data (Reported April 21 - 27, 2006)
Slideshow (Week-by-week animation)

Patterns of Bloom
There are so many patterns to think about as we examine the arrival of spring across North America. Each week has brought something new to wonder.
There is one pattern we see very clearly. Tulips emerge and bloom along the coastal areas before we see much in the center of the continent. 10-year old Jillian wondered why:

"On my Journey North tulip garden maps, it looks like most of the tulips that emerged and bloomed first, are near a coast of an ocean. Why is this?"

How would you answer Jillian? Discuss the question, then see what our Expert, Eve Blanchard has to say.

Patterns

Mystery in the Fridge
We often take the air around us for granted. Unless it is colored by smog or thickened with fog we just assume its made of the normal components; nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Sometimes we can smell things that pollute the air like the scent of a skunk or the garbage that needs taking out. Many times, however, there are things in the air but we don't sense nor do we smell them.
Plants are sometimes very sensitive to things in the air around them. A plant's environment can affect the way it grows. Something is happening to the tulips at the Perkiomen Valley High School. They wrote:

"When we planted our bulbs just after Thanksgiving, we had some bulbs left over that just didn't fit in the beds we made. We planted those extra bulbs in pots and kept them in the refrigerator all winter. They emerged four days earlier than the bulbs in the ground! However after growing on the window sill, they produced healthy leaves, but the flower buds were just shrunken nothings. Why didn't the flowers develop like the ones outside are doing?"

Look carefully for clues in this class’s situation. Brainstorm possible explanations. Then read this the 2006 "Ask the Tulip Expert" questions to help you answer CQ #13.

Challenge Question #13:
"What might have happened to the flowers from tulips potted and wintered indoors in the refrigerator?"

To respond to this question, please follow these instructions.

Exploring the Natural World: Journal in Hand

Conservationist Rachel Carson once said, It is not half so important to know as to FEEL when introducing a young child to the natural world. When we step outside the door we use all our senses at the same time. Sights, sounds, movements and wind all come together to stimulate a unique experience.

Try This!
Go outside with your journals and take a tour of your tulip garden. Once you are out in the garden try making a quiet zone all around the garden space. Use your senses to define some of the things you see, smell, hear and feel.

When you return to the classroom take some time to share your journal entries. Make a list of them on the board.

What is a Cinquain?

Next, try your hand at creating some simple cinquain (SIN cane) poetry!

Challenge Question #14:
" Are your tulips emerging, or blooming, or done blooming? Maybe they are still covered with snow. What else do you see, hear, feel? Can you turn your journal entries into poetry? (Send some of your poetry to Journey North.)"

To respond to this question, please follow these instructions.

Spotlight on Tulip Gardeners
I've noticed that hummingbirds arrive and maple trees flower when tulips first bloom. This is not to say that hummingbirds drink nectar from tulips! However, the heat required for both events seems to be quite similar. A VT gardener
In case you haven't visited the garden comments in this weeks reports come on over to the garden fence we'll share them. We've highlighted a few for you:

Garden Highlights Reported April 21-27, 2006

Questions Answered by Tulip Expert
It's that time again to learn more about the plants and climate that make up the Journey North tulip garden project. Join Eve Blanchard and many inquisitive minds to review this year's questions and answers.

Answers from the Tulip Expert, 2006

The Next Tulip Garden Update Will Be Posted on May 5, 2006.