It is surely spring when you report snow, sleet, and blooming tulips happening all together! Spring has arrived in fits and starts again, with more snow across the continental mid-section this week. Somehow, despite some poor weather conditions, the tulip gardens continue to emerge, grow, and bloom. Will your tulip gardens be blooming during spring break?

Examine your blooming tulips closely this week and take an artistic journey in the style of Georgia O'Keeffe.

"Finally, under the winter leaf cover, we have found the first 7 (of 25) of our tulips poking through the cold ground about 2 -5 cm. There is still snow on one side of the bed." Lunenburg, NS 04/02/09

"After a week of warm spring weather, winter came back with snow and mid day temperatures in the mid 30's. Our tulips have bloomed within the safety of their 5-6 inch leaves.The petals are a bit frayed and twisted but the children were delighted" Gardnerville, NV 04/06/09

"Nobody sees a flower, really--it is so small--we haven't time, and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time." Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986)

Take an artistic journey using clues from Georgia O'Keeffe's art. Read the lesson, Focusing with O'Keeffe on the Details (>>), then gather your blooming tulips, or tulip pictures, paper, and chalk. Use this technique to focus and capture the beauty of a tulip flower, or any other wonder of spring.

• Art Lesson >>
• Art from Judy Huter's classroom >>

Minnesota 45 Degrees Garden Emerges!
Northport Elementary checks in this week with news of spring. "Finally our 45N tulips have emerged!" Amazing news, considering the next information they share is, "After some snow over the weekend, the weather today is 37 degrees and sunny."

Here's their journal question for you:

Could our location in the middle of the continent have anything to do the late arrival?

• Updated details: Gardens on the 45 >>