A Ritual Of Spring: Welland’s Tulip Bulb Giveaway

This bed at Niagara Street and Riverbank is one of the sources of bulbs to be given away Friday morning. /Joe Barkovich file photo.

WELLAND – In one of spring’s most popular horticultural events, residents of the City of Welland can pick up a bag of free tulip bulbs Friday, May 19, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Quaker Road sports complex at 90 Quaker Road. The event will run rain or shine.

Parks staff will be on-site to provide residents with a bag of bulbs – one bag per vehicle while quantities last – in the parking lot of the sports complex. Vehicles are to enter on the east side of the parking lot and slowly proceed through the sectioned-off route.

“The giveaway is a great way to connect with local residents on the importance of greenery while brightening up our local neighbourhoods with colourful tulips,” said Dave Steven, acting manager of parks and open spaces. “The popularity of this event increases year-over-year, and we expect another good turnout.”

The tulip bulbs are cleared from the City’s commemorative gardens and annually distributed to the community. In the past, some 12,000 bulbs have been given away annually. However, varieties and colours cannot be guaranteed.

Attribution: City of Welland media release.

City To Host Annual Tulip Bulb Giveaway May 20

“Last year’s event ran smoothly with the setup we had in place”: Dave Steven

Captions: Left, this is one of the sites where the bulbs come from, bed at Niagara Street and Riverbank. Right, this is where the bulbs will be distributed, Quaker Road sports complex parking lot. Credits: left photo, Joe Barkovich; right, Anthony Gallaccio.

WELLAND – Residents of the City of Welland can pick up their bag of free tulip bulbs on May 20 from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 20, at the Quaker Road sports complex at 90 Quaker Road. The event will run rain or shine.

Continuing the successful protocols put in place during previous year’s events, parks staff will be on-site to provide vehicles with their bag of bulbs – one bag per vehicle while quantities last – in the parking lot of the sports complex. Vehicles are to enter on the east side of the parking lot and slowly proceed through the sectioned-off route. 

“We’ve been enjoying the nicer weather lately, and providing our community with a pop of colour for their gardens is fitting,” said Dave Steven, supervisor of parks and forestry. “Last year’s event ran smoothly with the setup we had in place, and we anticipate another good turnout.”

The tulip bulbs are cleared from the city’s commemorative gardens and annually distributed to the community. In the past, some 12,000 bulbs have been given away annually. However, varieties and colours cannot be guaranteed.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the city respectfully asks that you do not attend the tulip bulb giveaway if you are feeling sick or experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms (including fever, cough, and shortness of breath) or if you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 or are in isolation.

For more information, visit:  https://www.welland.ca/Leisure/eventsinfo/tulipGiveaway.asp 

(Attribution: City of Welland news release)

Rose City’s Annual Tulip Bulb Giveaway Huge Success

/Photo by Anthony Gallaccio

WELLAND – For more than 30 years the residents of Welland have participated in the annual Tulip Bulb Giveaway, Friday morning was no different. The City of Welland Parks department saw 500 vehicles flowing through the drive-up give-away to receive a bag of tulip bulbs at the Welland Sports Complex.

Approximately 8,000 bulbs were pulled from the garden features around the city that were then delivered to the Welland Sports Complex. The Parks staff ensured each bag was filled with the bulbs and placed in the drive up area.
Early birds showed up around 6:00 A.M. as vehicle after vehicle started arriving shortly after.

“Staying safe during the pandemic is priority number one and being able to keep traditions such as the Tulip Bulb Giveaway going is what we are all striving for”, said Mayor Frank Campion.

(Source: City of Welland news release)