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"Spring has sprung, the grass has ris', I wonder where the flowers is?" You must have on blinders if you haven't noticed the sea of tulips throughout the community! This past fall, more than 10,000 tulips were planted in the south Troost Area with 500 bulbs at 76th and Troost; 6000 bulbs in beds around the new Marlborough Troost Bridge (85th and Troost Ave); and 1500 at Kindred Hospital (87th & Troost). UMKC once again planted a beautiful display of tulips in the 5300 and 5400 blocks of Troost and throughout the campus. Rockhurst University jumped on board planting more than 29,000 bright red tulips on the campus. The Hyde Park Neighborhood Association planted more than 3000 bulbs in a vacant lot in the 3300 block of Troost after removing several trailer loads of construction debris from the site with the help of 15 to 20 volunteers. The second annual New Year's Day plantings took place at the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority at 18th and Troost.
Now, nearly 400,000 tulip bulbs are in bloom along the Troost Avenue corridor. The Tulips on Troost project began five years ago thanks to the efforts of Durwin Rice and a host of volunteers. Volunteers are currently working with area students at school greenhouses getting plants ready for a spring sale. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about gardening and to see the benefits of their labors.
So, enjoy the tulips while they last and start thinking about ways you can make a difference with something as simple as a tulip bulb. Start planting those flowers, bushes, and trees. Happy springtime!