Does the greening of spring sweep from south to north? Today's Test Garden map holds clues to help you predict. Use the map archives and resources to compare and contrast gardens from year to year.

Today's Report Includes:

• News: Highlights
  
• Explore: Map Archives Activity
  
• The Maps: Test Gardens

This week we welcome March 1st, and the first day of 'meteorological spring!' The coldest 3 months of winter are behind us now. Astronomical spring, based on the position of the Earth in its orbit around the sun, begins on the Vernal Equinox — March 20. Does it still feel like winter where you live, or has spring weather arrived?

Emerged in Tulsa
Despite the snowstorm earlier this week, a garden in Oklahoma emerged on February 26.

"One of our tulips emerged today. We had snow last night, but it was too warm for it to stick and it's 41 degrees this afternoon." - Mouttet Homeschool

Short Flower Stalks
Imagine a perfect tulip flower blooming on a long graceful stalk. Now picture your tulip blooming on top of a short, stumpy stem. What's happening?

Critter-Proof
Spring greens can be tempting to local wildlife. Keep them at bay with a covering of chicken wire.

"It looks like not all the tulip bulbs were stolen by local wildlife. We have an emergence in the bed that was covered with chicken wire," reports Spring Hill Elementary in McLean, Virginia.

Short Flower Stalks?

Photo:Erin Ungricht
Critter-proof

As reports of emerging gardens appear on the map it is a perfect time to compare and contrast emergence in previous years. Use the map archives and resources in this activity to record, graph and analyze emerge and bloom data.

• Comparing Tulip Test Gardens
  

Activity

As longer days arrive and gardens emerge across the Northern Hemisphere we begin to see interesting patterns of emergence. Almost 100 gardens have emerged so far. What do you see? Keep an eye on yours and report when you see emergence!

Journal