HOLLAND (WWJ) - Michiganders aren't the only ones confused by the weather lately as tulips in downtown Holland started blooming nearly a month ahead of the annual Tulip Time Festival.
The budding flowers have generated a bit of a buzz about "Stem Fest," local slang for the early bloom of roughly six million tulips. While the Tulip Time Festival -- featuring the flowers in all their glory -- is held the first two weeks of May, unseasonable warmth can rally them from slumber way earlier than expected.
Such was the case in 2012 when a spell of warm weather in the 70s and 80s during the overnight and daytime hours led to tulips blooming very early. By the time the festival came around, the flowers had come and gone with only the green foliage and stems left behind.
Hence, "Stem Fest."
Jamie Scott, Parks and Cemetery Deputy Director, told MLive that despite the early bloomers, the city parks department planted over half a million late blooming tulip varieties throughout the city so there will be flowers to see come festival time.
According to Scott, each tulip has their own microclimate and flowers that face north grow taller and faster due to more sun exposure. Tulips "shaded on the south side" of buildings and sidewalks will take longer to bloom.
Officials say they aren't anticipating another "Stem Fest" as the weather hasn't been consistently warm enough to sprout off more blossoms and last weekend's snow storm will be enough to keep the keep the majority of tulips from budding.
"We've been closely monitoring the tulips and the weather with our friends and local tulip experts at the city, and we have good news," officials said in a social media update last weekend. "We're experiencing a cold spell in Holland right now. That's very good for the tulips. It will help slow the growth and put them on track for Tulip Time."
For more information and live updates, you can follow www.cityofholland.com/1022/Tulip-Tracker.