Outside Amsterdam and open only seven weeks a year
Holland’s seventy-acre garden, has seven million flowers.
Keukenhof celebrates its 60th birthday this year with the 400th
anniversary of Captain Henry Hudson’s sailing into New York City.
The Hudson River ~ New Amsterdam, (now New York), ~ the Bronx ~
Manhattan ~ Staten Island ~ Flushing and Harlem, are all Dutch names.

Advice for growing spectacular tulips in San Francisco

1)  Bulbs will arrive in San Francisco the first or second week of October and should be refrigerated 41/42° Fahrenheit (not frozen) for three months.

2)  Plant December 1st of each year.  Drainage of soil is important, when the soil is too wet, the bulb will rot.

3)  When the flower dies, take the head off the flower, from the tulips only.  Keep in mind that after flowering, the plant needs its green leaves to manufacture food (photosynthesis) which is stored in the bulb for next year’s growth.  If you remove the foliage too early, the plant can no longer manufacture nutrient reserves for next year.  This results in a small, weak bulb which will gradually decline and die out.  After the leaves have died back, (around June 1st), harvest, clean and store in a cool, dry, dark place, like the garage, separating the bulbs with crumpled newspaper.   If attached baby bulbs have grown, separate them from the mother bulb as they will sap the mother bulb's energy.   You may plant the babies, but they will take two years to become large and productive.

4)  In September, place the bulbs in the refrigerator, (vegetable crisper at 41/42° Fahrenheit) in a plastic bag with holes, so that the bulbs can breath, until ready to plant on December 1st.

5)  Enjoy your beautiful tulips for many years.