In 1959, the first Spalding Tulip Parade took place, and continues to this day around the end of April. I grew up in this area of the UK, South Lincolnshire ,known for its flat landscape very much much like the Netherlands complete with dikes and windmills. The floats can be as much as 50ft in length and may be decorated by as many as 100,000 tulip heads.
In years when the tulips are late, daffodils or hyacinths are sometimes used in their place. When the tulips are early,crepe paper has to be substituted.
I found a delightful video clip, which I hope you will be able to view
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Allee Willis
LOVE all these! Giving the Rose Bowl Parade a run for its money. Love that everything is made from tulips, one of my favorite flowers ever.
I especially love the horses, heads so horribly out of scale with their bodies.
There’s a tulip festival in Holland, Michigan every year too.
k2dtw
Beautiful!!!.. The very early (very short) Mi Spring has thrown off the Tulips. Holland Mi, is probably wishing they had a back-up plan like Spalding has.
Douglas Wood
Sorry, but I just had to pipe in here and mention the incredible synchronicity that’s just taken place. I’ve spent all day researching
tulips for an episode of a kids show I’m writing that’s set in Holland!
Allee Willis
Fantastic!!
k2dtw
Holland, Mi???…if only…smile
Douglas Wood
No, the REAL Holland, but since you mention it, when I was growing up in Chicago I would spend a week each summer at a friend’s cottage in South Haven, Michigan and we used to visit Holland. I have fond memories of the wooden shoe factory and those clog dancers!
k2dtw
Sounds like a great project…friends just got back from beautiful Amsterdam…
This is from Google Image…Holland Aerial View Tulip Fields!!!
http://www.google.com/search?q=holland+aerial+view+tulip+fields&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=lH6IT5vSHMXs2QXft4C7CQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBsQ_AUoAQ&biw=1089&bih=464
Great Mi memories!!! The Lake Michigan cities/towns/resorts now make up the “Lake Michigan Gold Coast” So worth visiting the next time you’re in the Midwest…the Sand Dunes, Saugatuck, (Artist).. Petoskey & Bay View and Bay Harbor…all great spots!!
If you guys travel that far north…might as well drive up to Mackinaw City and see the beautiful Mackinaw Bridge to the UP??.. All have beautiful Lake Mi sunsets…even though you’re probably used to that whole sunset thing…smile
shirlie williams
Many thanks for the Camembert Allee, Tulips are my favourite flower, I adore them.
Holland in Michigan, never knew that Wow !
k2dtw
Holland, Mi. has great history because of a wonderful/early settlemnt of Dutch immigrants.
mike winer
Always love a parade and this one looks stunning