Introduction: Tulip Garden Exercises

Plants are highly sensitive to changes in both climate and habitat conditions. But different species of plants will react differently to these changes. Red Emperor Tulips thrive across the northern hemisphere, and their emergence from the ground and blooming are easy to track, making them ideal candidates for research into seasonality and its effects on plants.

In this lab exercise, students can plant their own tulip gardens, and track the arrival of Spring by recording when the plants emerge from the ground, and when the tulips first bloom in the Spring. Observations of temperature and climatic variation are also recorded as ancillary data that can help predict the responses to things like heavy rainstorms or a late freeze. Students track this data over an extended period of time, and then look for patterns in the data, to predict responses to variation.

The data from the Journey North experiments can then be presented to scientists, and more specific patterns can be determined. The data helps us understand the long-term effects of climate change on plants.

These experiments help the students become more informed about climate change and plants in general, preparing them for a future as informed citizens who can help to make environmental decisions.

Image Source: Journey North