Tulip Test Garden Planted

Today we planted our Journey North Tulip Test Garden.   We had previously picked out a site.  We decided to plant them around our play structure and sandbox.  Our yard is mostly clay, so we did add some soil to the bulbs as we planted them.  We were careful to follow the Journey North instructions so that we can help announce the arrival of spring in North America in 2010.  Hailey and Isabella were not as interested in the project as I would have hoped.  They actually went down to our vegetable garden to investigate what was left.  Madeline and I dug the holes and placed the bulbs and then covered them.  Madeline actually made her own little area to care for herself, although it is more in the shade than the rest of the tulip bulbs.  I suppose it will be a good experiment to see which bulbs emerge first.

Here is a picture of the site we chose, with holes dug.  We did try to use a tool that dug specific holes, but that did not work very well in our clay soil, so we resorted to using a shovel.  We planted on both sides of the sandbox.

This is the area where Madeline planted her 3 bulbs, which she says she is going to check on daily.  She was very good about measuring the spots to be sure the bulbs were planted 6 inches deep.

Here is the first bulb we planted.  Madeline named it Mark.  She named her other 2 bulbs Emma and Morgan.

We are now going to cover them with some old boards so that the squirrels don't get to them.  We will remove the boards later this winter.