At that time of year when those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are longing for spring, unmistakable signs are in the air. Yes, it’s time to think about planning a visit to a tulip festival! They start in March and run through May, but the most likely month to see the flowers in full bloom is April.

There are many tulip festivals. In Canada, the biggest is the Canadian Tulip Festival. Theme for this year’s 59th edition is “Kaleidoscope of Spring”. Over one million tulips in more than 50 varieties will bring a kaleidoscope of color throughout the National Capital Region May 6-23, 2011. The highest concentration tulips – some 300,000, can be found in Commissioners Park.

Down in the States, the best known fest is Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan. Their claim is 6 million tulips, which the organizers fervently hope will be in full bloom May 7-14, 2011.

Other notable tulip festivals include the Tulip Fest in Oregon (March 25-May 1), Tulip Extravaganza in California (March 25-27), Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington State (April 1-30), an Organic Tulip Festival in Virginia, Woodland Tulip Festival in Washington State (April 2-30), Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival in Utah (April 15-30), Wamego, Kansas (April 16 and 17), Pella Tulip Time in Iowa (May 5-7), Albany Tulip Festival in New York State (May 7-8) and Orange City Tulip Festival in Iowa (May 19-21).

However, the tulip festival all flower-lovers have on their bucket lists is the one in the Netherlands. The Keukenhof International Flower Exhibition in Lisse, Holland, is a floral adventure no gardener should miss. Tulips are, of course, the stars, but there’s every kind of bulb flower on display, including crocus and amaryllis. It’s open from March 24 through May 20, 2011.

(Photo by Marvie)