Tulip Watch

I call this time of year Tulip watch. Early spring, full of winter winds and summer sunshine hiding between pockets of fitful spring rain.

My first year living in Iowa, I purchased a bag of tulip bulbs from Walmart, with little hope of their quality or survival, and planted them in the fall. By the time spring crept in to rescue me from my first winter in a new town and state, I began my “tulip watch” waiting for the bulbs to push their first leaves from the soil.

During tulip watch, I step outside every day and creep around my front yard, squatting down and looking for signs of my overwintered friends. I part old grass and leaves, speaking silent hymnals for their arrival.

Last year they made it! They burst through the cold packed soil and by April we had a glorious few days to enjoy them before the deer ate their soft petals in a single night.

This year the deer remembered and have eaten their leaves extra early. I find myself sad and equally tickled at the idea that the deer are thinking “ooh, tulips are back in season!” and make their way through the neighborhood with their girlfriends as if it’s restaurant week.

So last fall I added over 75 daffodils, which the deer do not favor, to the yard. I should really rename my silly ritual of creeping around and squatting with my eyes keen on the soil, to spring bulb watch, but it doesn’t have the same ring. So tulip watch it remains, though I have tulips and hyacinth and daffodils and more to watch for now.

Yesterday during tulip watch I got to see my first daffodil, free from its sepals, ready to open.