Morning MixMI VacayHolland

Actions

Grand Rapids man plants 8,000 tulips in front yard

Posted at 7:14 PM, Apr 23, 2021
and last updated 2021-04-23 21:59:29-04

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. — Myles Lawton loves tulips so much, he planted 8,000 of them in his front yard. At the corner of Plainfield and Comstock, they're hard to miss.

“I look a little crazy, but that’s okay,” Lawton said.

Lawton loves the looks on people's faces when they come see his yard. But he was afraid this year his tulips wouldn't make it.

“Within two days Mother Nature could say, 'Oh, hey, we’re gonna drop below freezing,'" Lawton said.

That's exactly what happened to Myles this last year. But he spent too much time digging out the path to line his walkway with tulips. So Myles put up his best fight against frost: covering all of his tulips with sheets.

“It looked like there was ghosts hiding all over my front yard,” Lawton said.

Tucked safe and warm, his tulips still bloomed just as beautifully as he'd hoped.

In Holland, it's much of the same story. The traditional parade isn't happening. Instead, they're offering guided tours and a more personalized approach.

“We’re really focusing much more on the tulips and the community and the heritage,” Tulip Time Executive Director Gwen Auwerda said.

Auwerda says while some traditional Tulip Time events may not be the same, they're giving people an inside look.

“Since we can’t Dutch dance this year, you can come and see the costumes," Auwerda said.

Find more on how to experience Tulip Time safely this year here.

RELATED: Tulip Time announces details for virtual run

RELATED: Tulip Time highlights upcoming Dutch costume event, quilt raffle

Follow FOX 17: Facebook - Twitter - Instagram - YouTube