There’s nothing that says springtime more than a tulip festival, and there are at least a dozen from which to choose, Road Trips Gardeners. April and May are the best times to see the flowers in full bloom.

The biggest tulip fest in the world (!) is the Canadian Tulip Festival. During this year’s 61st anniversary edition, some one million tulips in more than 50 varieties will bring a kaleidoscope of color throughout the National Capital Region May 8 through 18, 2015. The highest concentration tulips – some 300,000, can be found in Commissioners Park. The first one was held in 1953 as a Board of Trade initiative, under the inspiration of the internationally renowned photographer Malak Karsh.

Down in the States, the best known fest is Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan. Their claim is 6 million tulips, which the organizers fervently hope will be in full bloom May 2 through 9, 2015.

Other notable tulip festivals include the Tulip Fest in Oregon (now through May 3, 2015), Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Washington State (now through April 30, 2015), an Organic Tulip Festival in New York (May 2 through 24, 2015), Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival in Utah (now through May 9, 2015), Woodland Tulip Festival in Washington State (April 18 and 19, 2015), Pella Tulip Time in Iowa (May 7, 8 and 9, 2015), Albany Tulip Festival in New York State (May 9 and 10, 2015) and Orange City Tulip Festival in Iowa (May 14, 15 and 16, 2015).

However, the tulip festival all flower-lovers have on their bucket lists is the one in the Netherlands. The Keukenhof International Flower Exhibition in Lisse, Holland, is a floral adventure no gardener should miss. Tulips are, of course, the stars, but there’s every kind of bulb flower on display, including crocus and amaryllis. It’s open now through May 17, 2015.

Another place in Europe to see tulips is Morges, Switzerland. The Tulip Fest along Lake Geneva continues through May 17, 2015.

(Photo courtesy of Orange City Tulip Festival)