Tulip Test Gardens
Update: March 17, 2011	Please report:
Happy West Virginia gardeners were dancing in their garden this week. Under melted snow the students found green shoots! Across the map Test Gardens are blooming. Study map animations using the mapserver this week. What patterns can you see as you study the Test Garden maps over time? Find out if spring moves from south to north. Decide if you are having an normal spring. Today's Report Includes: Maps, Questions, and Highlights Explore: Mapping the Green Wave of Spring Explore: Is This a Normal Year? Resources	Image of the Week
	What Will YOU Look For?
Maps, Questions, and Highlights
Highlights: The view on St. Patrick's Day looks GREEN! "We KNOW spring has arrived!!!" exclaimed students at Lake Forest Country Day School. After checking their garden, Hurricane High School students reported, "We went outside, and to our great surprise, the tulips were emerging! We were so excited we danced and laughed." The middle of the continent is warming up, and gardeners in warmer climates are seeing RED. From California to North Carolina, and from England to Italy, proud gardeners have declared spring's arrival with their blooming Red Emperors gardens. Daytime temperatures continue to rise and the days have lengthened noticeably this month. A look at last week's high temperatures can help us understand the pattern of test garden emergence in North America. Where do you think the latest gardens will emerge? Why? March 5-12 High temperatures Read all the new Garden Highlights map/sightings (North America) map/sightings (Eurasia) map/sightings (Asia) This Week's Map Questions Handout
Mapping the Green Wave of Spring
Journey North uses the tulip test garden to indicate spring's arrival throughout the country. But here's a question to ponder: "Does spring truly move northward?" Imagine drawing the wave of spring at different stages and dates over the next few weeks. What would it look like? What patterns have you noticed on the Test Garden maps this spring? Map the Green Wave of Spring	Track the wave of spring with the Mapserver
Explore: Is This a Normal Spring?
Does it feel warmer or colder than last year at this time? Is this a normal spring or is it earlier or later than usual? What does your gut say? How could you verify this? This may be the way to begin a discussion about the "big issue" of climate change in your own classroom. Monitor your temperatures and compare them to the national climate maps. Is this a NORMAL Spring?: 3 Easy Steps to Follow	Track temperatures and find the answer to this: "Is this a NORMAL spring?"
Related Journey North Lessons and Links
Explore: Is This a Normal Spring? Explore: Map the Green Wave of Spring Journal: Journey North Spring Checklist Study: Isotherms: Bands of Temperature Color Mapping Spring Data: Lessons and Resources Questioning: Making Sense of Journey North Maps 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 March 24, 2011. Facebook Pinterest Twitter © 1997 – 2019 Journey North. All rights reserved.