Now that tulip season has finally arrived, here is an update on the Tulip Project
To recap: Last fall, over 400 second-through-sixth grade students planted 550 Red Emperor tulips at 13 schools as part of a collaboration between RCMG and the St. Paul Public Schools. The program involves participation in a Journey North community science phenology activity called Tulip Test Gardens. RCMG funded the project as well as providing volunteers to teach and help with the garden preparation and planting.
St. Paul Schools' Grow Our Own staff created a wonderful website – SPPS Tulip Test Garden Project – for teachers to use with maps and information about tulips and phenology and suggestions for getting the students involved in observation and data keeping. There are different charts, such as the one below, for different stages of the project, from emergence to bloom.
A student-designed sign identifies the tulip gardens and recognizes RCMG partnership.
Shoots began to emerge during the second week of April, blooming in early May. As you can see above at L'Etoile du Nord French Immersion School, the tulips have created brilliant splashes of color – and a memorable learning experience – at schools throughout the city.
Susan Cathey
RCMG Youth Project Leader