I’d always wondered what happens to the thousands of tulips Chicago plants around the city to give us all a much needed burst of color after enduring a long winter.
Turns out that the city gives them away. Or at least they give away quite a lot of them at the Garfield Park Conservatory.
This year’s TulipMania is on May 22.
The Conservatory’s events page notes that the give-away begins at 9 a.m. and urges folks to get in line early: “Please be aware that lines form early, and the bulbs are usually gone by noon.
Bulbs are fist-come, first-served with a limit of one or two grocery bags (yes grocery bags) of bulbs per person.
When I first heard about this, I thought the limit might be to a handful or two.
Oh and there’s an incentive to join the Conservatory. Members get to skip the line.
I’d love to go to this, but I’m committed to opening day at the Oak Park Farmers Market. And if the weather’s good, I’ll probably have Sim and the kids join me there for donuts and music.
Straw hat tip to Mr. Brown Thumb.
Photo from Robert S. Donovan’s Flickr photostream.
Virtual Farmgirl 