Journey North International Plant Study Spring 2008

Tulip Test Gardens

Update: April 17, 2008

Today's Report Includes:

Data, Maps, and Highlights >>
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Explore: Survival in a Wyoming Snowstorm >>
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Focus: All Eyes on Tulip Flowers >>
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Links: This Week's Tulip Garden Resources >>

Tulips can't travel, but they sure can move!

Data, Maps, and Highlights:

Highlights:
The map shows about 1/3 of the gardens have begun blooming. Spring is spreading across the Northern Hemisphere! Tulips are also emerged in Sapporo, Japan! What is your garden doing now?

"A few bulbs are up! There has been a HUGE pile of snow on the planting sites for the last few weeks and it just melted off." - Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan 04/04/09

"The tulips emerged in all their red glory today. They are a beautiful sight to behold. SPRING has arrived in New York City. Finally. Hooray!!!!!!"
- NYC, NY 04/15/08

"We were SO EXCITED to see our first tulip bloom today! This particular tulip has 2 blooms and it is very large and beautiful. The kids first noticed the bloom when we were lining up after lunch recess. Several more tulips are on their way to opening. We observed the stamen and pistil of the flower. How cool!"
- Miamisburg, OH 04/10/08

	This Week's Map >> Data (for your map) >> Handout: Making Sense of Tulip Garden Maps >>
This Week's Map >>		This Week's Map Question Handout >>

Explore: Survival in a Wyoming Snowstorm

Tulips Emerge in Evanston, WY
"It is still snowing today (04/09/08). We have had a very snowy winter--more than in several years. We have 3 inches of new snow on the ground. I had assumed that we would not find anything because the weather was still pretty cool. We went outside anyway and looked at the Memorial Garden, where we planted, and just barely sticking up above the snow, there they were! (It will be snowing here tomorrow as well, but apparently that is not going to stop the tulips!)"
What affect would the snow have on the tulip plants? >>

More pictures >>

Focus: All Eyes on Tulip Flowers

Not all tulips gardens are holding out against the cold and snow. If you have blooming tulips you will want to try this! Plants don't seem to move around much, but they are, indeed, on the move. Have you seen any evidence in your tulip garden?

Watch what happens with these tulip flowers.

Amazing what you can see when you look hard.
What can YOU see? >>

Take a little sunshine and go out into your tulip garden. Take your camera, too!
Watch what happens to YOUR tulips when the sun moves across the sky!

Resources: This Week's Tulip Garden Resources

Plants on the Move: How Does it Help Them Survive >>
How Freezing Temperatures Affect Plants >>
Risky Weather: Will Spring Tulips Survive? >>
Helpful Weather Links: Climate Weather and Seasons >>
Tulip Garden Journals (click-and-print) >>

More Journey North Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Tulip Garden Update Will Be Posted on April 24, 2008