It is spring time. The Tulip Festival in Holland, Michigan is underway from May 5-12, 2012. Don't miss the unique festival of beauty with the display of millions of tulips. Also enjoy the showcasing of Dutch heritage and culture through dance, art, theatre and much more. Tulip Time Festival.

The tulip anthology photographs by Ron Van Dongen; foreword by Anna Pavord; edited by Billie Lythberg — Tulips are one of the most ubiquitous flowers seen in spring, and they have been written about, cultivated, and sought after for ages. This gorgeous oversize book presents color photos accompanied by information, poetry, and facts.

Do you want to make your green thumb even greener? Earth Week is a great time to learn how to grow and care for your own vegetables, herbs, fruit trees and flowers. Master Gardener Anita Callendar will be at the Library on April 20 with an overview of the Master Gardening Program presented by the Michigan State University Extension. Join her and other future gardening gurus in the Community Room from 7:00-8:30PM. No registration is required.

Green Flowers: Unexpected Beauty for the Garden, Container or Vase by Alison Hoblyn, photographs by Marie O'Hara

This book is a terrific inspiration for a tone-on-tone garden bed. Some of my favorites include Hacquetia epipactis, Euphorbia lathyris (mole plant), and Bupleurum rotundifolium (hare's ear).

Early spring is the time when flowers from bulbs come up to greet us and reassure us that, despite the sometimes fickle weather, warmer weather is on the way. These daffodils are blooming in the courtyard outside the Children's Library. You can grow your own with a little help from our collection.

Flowers and Herbs of Early America by Lawrence D. Griffith is a detailed look at a variety of annuals, perennials, and herbs that were around in the early days of the United States and are still found in many gardens and yards today. The color photographs are gorgeous and include both wide shots and close-ups, making for easy identification even by an amateur gardener like myself.