A recent stretch of well above average warmth has accelerated the blooms for Pella’s favorite flowers, but some community leaders stress its still too early to tell what will be around by the annual Tulip Time celebration in early May.

Executive Director of Pella Historical Museums Jessi Galligan says they’ve received a lot of questions about what 60 and 70 degree days mean for the spring bloom, and that ultimately, a return to normal in the near term should slow down the process for many bulbs that remain deep in the ground.

“We know many of you are concerned about the tulips being so tall this early. It’s true – these warm days are contributing to earlier sprouts. But, cooler days are in the forecast, and some beds haven’t sprouted at all yet. We don’t know when tulips will bloom as Mother Nature has the final say, but because we plant early, mid, and late blooming varieties, we still plan to have blooms throughout mid April into early May,” Galligan said in a post on the Pella Historical Museums Facebook page.

Between Pella Historical and the City of Pella, nearly 225,000 bulbs are planted between the two, and several late varieties are mixed in with others. Galligan says that it may not be a bad idea to start planning for an earlier bloom cycle, but then for guests to consider a return trip for the 89th Tulip Time festival May 2nd through 4th.