Tulip Queen Cheyne Plants and Attendants Anna DeNooy, Avery Verhoef, Ellie Wogen and Tatum Carlstone point out the location of the 'Nightmare' tulips in Central Park. Photo by Pella Parks Department.

After making dozens of appearances in schools, retirement communities, on TV, and at the Iowa State Capitol, a group of five high school seniors is ready to turn their attention to their favorite tradition.

Queen Cheyne Plants and the Royal Court of Anna DeNooy, Avery Verhoef, Ellie Wogen, and Tatum Carlstone have spent their spring promoting the 88th Tulip Time festival, which begins this Thursday. The group will be featured on the Tulip Toren in the afternoon and evening grandstand shows, starting with the coronation, and will also be highlighted in each of the six parades. Plants is thankful to all who make Tulip Time possible, which she has gotten to see from a different perspective on the royal court.

“This is such a blessing that our community puts all of this together,” Plants says. “Especially from this perspective, I get to see how much work really goes into it, and that’s not really all of it. There’s still the floats, setting up the grandstands, and the speiling.”

“God has truly blessed us with this community. I’ve been going to Tulip Time for as long as I can remember, and every time, it holds a special place in my heart.”

Hear more from the Tulip Queen and Royal Court about their journey this Wednesday and Thursday on Let’s Talk Pella.