UPDATE: The Tulip Time Festival is now underway! Check out what the locals are saying about the lack of blooms this year.
http://www.wzzm13.com/news/regional/211541/5/Holland-abloom-with-Tulip-Time-Events
In Holland, Michigan (a city known for its Dutch heritage) the annual tulip festival is being dubbed “Stemfest” thanks to unseasonably warm weather that has caused many of the flowers to bloom much to early.
Tulip Time Festival has taken place in Holland for over 80 yrs & the festivals organizers are taking the hit in stride. Instead of fretting over the fact that more than 60% of the carefully planted tulips will be blown before the festival begins this Saturday, they have taken a more “tongue in cheek” humorous approach.
Organizers have created Stemfest T-shirts & buttons that depict a wilting tulip missing it’s petals! They will start selling these items on Friday, the day before opening. Tulip Time’s marketing manager, Susan Zalnis is quoted as saying “I hope people have fun with it”.
We all know you can’t control Mother Nature & I for one love the amusing spin they have put on the festival this year, they get an A+ for positive attitude from me!
No matter how many tulips will be in bloom this weekend, organizers are expecting a good festival. Tulip Time Executive Director Gwen Auwerda summed it up nicely: “Some visitors will come to Holland and focus on the remaining tulips; others will only see the stems. It’s all a matter of one’s perspective”.
