The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 64

2004:02:17:15:03:42 CALENDAR E19 LOSANGELESTIMES THE READING ROOM Have you ever been to the circus and watched dozens of cheerful clowns climbing out of a tiny car? amazing to see so much color and energy coming out of one small vehicle. the way it is with tulips, too. Tulips are bright, cheerful flowers that can really energize a springtime garden. Like clowns in an automobile, all their beauty is packed inside a small called a bulb, waiting to burst forth. Tulip bulbs look like heart-shaped onions.

Some are as small as pebbles and others are as big as your fist. Inside every bulb are tiny roots, a stem for the flower, and the food the plant needs to grow and bloom. When a bulb is planted, the roots poke down into the soil to grow. The stem pushes up to the surface to support the flower. A fleshy part that protects the stem while inside the bulb also grows upward and becomes the leaves.

The flowers come in different shapes and sizes, just like the bulbs. But instead of being papery and pebbly, they are bright and beautiful. They sit cheerfully atop tall stems and sway in a springtime breeze. After the flowers fade, new bulbs develop underground, at the base of the old bulb, and begin to store food for new flowers the next year. Right now, gardeners at Descanso Gardens are busy planting more than 26,000 tulip bulbs in pots and flowerbeds.

When they bloom, the flowers will be as bright and cheerful as a carload of clowns set free to romp at the circus. To find out when the tulips are in bloom, visit www.Descanso Gardens.org or call (818) 949-4200. Descanso Gardens is accredited by the American Assn. of Museums. This Learning Link was provided by Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Flintridge, near the interchange of the 2 and 210 freeways.

CALIFORNIA CLASSROOM Tulips add cheer to any garden Avery Econome COLOR SOON TO COME: Gardeners plant 26,000 tulip bulbs at Descanso Gardens. By Joyce and Ron Glazier Special to The Times A they touched down, a large vehicle that looked like a four-wheel drive convertible pulled up at the airstrip. The pilot taxied to the end and swung the Cessna around. everyone Rowan shouted. the propeller! I have to leave the engine running to cool it Christopher was out first and climbing into the Land Rover before anyone else had their feet on the ground.

the woman driver said. Helene. I manage Chitabe Rowan said you had a surprise for I do. How would you like to see some painted she asked. Christopher frowned.

are Helene said, find out in about 15 Helene started the Land Rover and pulled onto the road. With everyone hanging on for dear life, she raced away. Suddenly, in front of them, loping across an opening in the bush, were at least 20 wild dogs. They were colored brown, black and white, but no two looked the same. They had big ears that stuck straight up and long, spindly legs.

Christopher exclaimed. those the painted wolves you were talking about? I see why you call them that. They look like someone splattered them with buckets of paint. Where are they hunting to feed their pups back in the Helene explained. will kill an antelope, swallow some meat, and regurgitate it when they get back to the Christopher looked puzzled.

know, Helene said, laughing. kind of pretty Christopher said. sound really Helene agreed. work together so the pack can survive. We are very lucky to see them.

There are not many left in the is a great Christopher said. you think this was great just wait until Helene replied mysteriously. Thursday: Christopher travels the Mokoro Trail and finds out about river horses. This story and a color version of the illustration are on The website at latimes.com/kids Part 3 The story so far: Christopher and his dad are about to land at Chitabe camp in a surprise waiting for them. Reuben Los Angeles Times Why did the hermit crab cross the road? To get to the Shell station.

Paul, 9 Grandview Elementary, Manhattan Beach Did you hear about the guy who lost his whole left side? all right now. John, 8 Wittmann Elementary, Cerritos Kids, send us your funny jokes and puzzling riddles. Jokes Riddles HEATHCLIFF By George Gately DENNIS THE MENACE By Hank Ketcham FAMILY CIRCUS By Bil Keane MARMADUKE By Brad Anderson GARFIELD By Jim Davis PEANUTS By Charles M. Schulz Kids, to take part in a feature on this page, write to Reading Room, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st Los Angeles, CA 90012; or fax to (213) 237-0732; or e-mail Include your first and last name, age, school and the city in which your school is located.

Get published The Reading Room encourages submissions from children for the following features: Book Reviews by Kids, Question Corner, Jokes Riddles and Creativity Corner. Submission guidelines Submissions should be brief and are subject to editing. Drawings should be in color and on unlined paper. Make sure you do all the work yourself. How to write to us READ For more information, call (213) 241-6100 or e-mail ME to Become a Reading by 9 volunteer Help a Child Learn to Read Help a Child Succeed 03RB9094.