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Albert’s Gardens 2008
by District 2 Societies
Albert’s Gardens1
For many of us tulips in bloom are a good indicator that spring has arrived. We eagerly watch for the tulips to first emerge from the ground, which happens soon after the snow disappears, and then we watch with great anticipation as they bloom several weeks later.
Four years ago, during an informal discussion about climate change and current spring- time warming trends, a long time gardener in Lanark County (Albert) pointed out that the tulips in his garden were, on average, blooming several days earlier than they did several decades ago. Out of this and other discussions the concept of maintaining a series of Red Emperor tulip beds, all managed in the same way but located in different communities covering a north-south transect through eastern Ontario, was developed. Albert’s Gardens, as they came to be called, are used to record the emergence and bloom of Red Emperor tulips, to document the affect of climate variability and change on emergence and bloom dates and to document the arrival of spring each year.
The National Capital Commission provides the tulip bulbs and plaques which mark Albert’s Gardens sites. Key data for the 2008 season are shown in the table below and will be updated throughout the season. Historical data will be posted at this site later.
Emergence and bloom dates (2008) of Red Emperor tulips in Albert’s Gardens sites in Eastern Ontario
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Albert’s Garden site
Town/city |
Planting Date |
Date when 20% tulips emerged* |
Date when 100% tulips emerged |
Date when 20% tulips in bloom |
Date when 100% tulips in bloom |
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Almonte |
Fall 2005 |
April 8, 2008 |
April 10, 2008 |
April 24, 2008 |
April 26, 2008 |
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Athens |
Fall 2005 |
By April 4, 2008 |
April 5, 2008 |
April 21, 2008 |
April 21, 2008 |
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Bancroft |
Fall 2005 |
Bed out of service for 2008
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N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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Beachburg |
Fall 2005 |
April 2, 2008
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April 11, 2008
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April 22, 2008
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April 27, 2008
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Carleton Place |
Fall 2005 |
April 8, 2008 |
April 15, 2008 |
April 24, 2008 |
April 25, 2008 |
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Collins Bay |
Fall 2005 |
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Kingston |
Fall 2005 |
March 30 |
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Ottawa |
Fall 2005 |
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Picton |
Fall 2005 |
Bed out of service for 2008
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N/A |
N/A
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N/A |
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Renfrew |
Fall 2005 |
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1 Albert’s Gardens originated as a Mississippi Valley Field Naturalist http://www.mvfn.ca activity in partnership with local horticultural societies, and the National Capital Commission of Canada. http://canadascapital.gc.ca (2008-05-07) |
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