It’s Blooming Tulips Across the USA This May

During the spring, especially around Easter, tulips can be purchased in pots to be given as gifts. If you happen to receive such a gift – don’t discard the plant when it has withered away. Why? You can safely remove the bulb and store it until the fall for replanting in your flowerbed.

Reusing and Storing Tulip Bulbs From Potted Plants

When your tulip has finally withered away and the leaves have turned brown, carefully lift out the contents of the pot onto old newspaper. Locate the bulb and gently wash off the any soil from the it. Place bulbs in a single layer into a wire or wicker basket. Place the basket in a cool, dry area until the fall the bulbs can be replanted in the ground or into a pot according to the USDA zones noted below.
 
USDA Zones 4 & 5 – September to Early October
USDA Zones 6 & 7 – October to Early November
USDA Zones 8 & 9 – November to Early December
USDA Zone 10 – January

If you’re not sure which zone you live in, you can find your zone by using the Zip Code to USDA Zone Finder provided by iVillage Garden Web.  

Replanting Your Tulip Bulbs

Using a shovel or spade, dig into the ground about 6 inches, pushing forward on the handle, to lift the soil. 

Place one or two bulbs, pointy side up, into the ground.

Remove shovel or spade.

Pack the dirt down firmly where you dug the hole to seal it over

If the ground seems overly dry, you can water it lightly but in no way should you soak the area.

If you love tulips, you may want to check out the Tulip Festivals being held throughout the United States over the next couple of weeks, where you can admire anywhere from hundreds of thousands on display at most of the festivals to the six million showcased at the Tulip Time Festival in Holland Michigan!  

If you do bring home a plant or two you can further enhance its beauty according to Mary Jane Hoag, of Jenkintown, PA who says, “invert the leaves to make them like a rose or an anemone by pushing on the middle of the outside of the petals and sort of make them stick out.”

Image via Wikipedia

What: 24th Annual Tulip Fest
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 25th – Sunday, May 3, 2009
Where: Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, Woodburn, Oregon
Tickets: $5/car, Monday-Friday; $10/car Saturday and Sunday
Event Details: In addition to the 40 plus acres of tulips and daffodils this year’s Tulip Fest includes kid’s play acre, tram rides, cow train, Craft’s market place (Sat. & Sun.), wine tasting (Sat. & Sun.), wooden shoe making (Sat. & Sun.) and flower arrangement (Sat. & Sun.). For more information visit the Tulip Fest’s Website

What: Tulip Time Festival
When: May 2-9, 2009
Where: Holland, Michigan
Tickets: For ticket information and venue locations, times and dates click here  
Event Details: If the more than 6 million tulips on display at this year’s festival aren’t enough to keep you entertained, additional activities scheduled throughout the week include live entertainment, parades, arts and crafts, an animal petting zoo, an antique car show, trolley tours, outdoor concerts, Dutch market, breakfast and luncheon buffets.  

What: Pella Tulip Time
When: Thursday – Saturday, May 7-9, 2009
Where: Pella, Iowa
Tickets: For ticket information and venue locations, times and dates  click here
Event Details: Activities planned for this year’s tulip festival include Dutch Masters antique auto show, Dutch craft market, open air city tour, quilt show, art show, pancake breakfast, kids fun run, 5k run/walk, parades and a tractor rodeo. 

What: 61st Annual Albany Tulip Festival
When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, 2009
Where: Washington Park, Albany, New York
Tickets: Admission is Free
Event Details: In addition to the more than 200,000 tulips on display in the park this year’s 2-day festival includes craft exhibits, live music, and food. Free shuttle service will be provided by CDTA throughout both days between Washington Park and the Eagle Street Garage (Eagle Street and Madison Avenue) and the Elk Street Lot (Elk and Hawk Sts.)  

What: 69th Annual Orange City Tulip Festival
When: Friday-Sunday, May 14-16, 2009
Where: Orange City, Iowa
Tickets: Order online
Event Details: Festivities include music and dancing by hundreds of children and adults in intricate authentic costumes, two daily parades featuring top area marching bands, nightly musical theatre, a carnival midway, fun ethnic food treats, plus thousands of tulips and a dozen reproduction windmills throughout a charming village.