Tulips planted here by preschoolers of the Early Learning Center (Fall 2011) just started blooming yesterday, March 25, 2012. The plants look very short and blooms are very close to the leaves.

This spring is turning out to have the earliest blooming tulips in Albany that I have witnessed and I have been doing Journey North Tulip Gardens with the City of Albany schools for over 10 years. It is great this project uses all aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) to keep track of Mother Nature. Forget about predicting the outcome of "March Madness" in the NCAA tournament and try your luck at predicting the date of next year's Red Emperor tulip bloom date!

Photo credits: Carol Ann Margolis