Late-flowering tulips are worse for wear after our steady rain showers over the past week. Still, it's time for them to bow off center stage and give the applause to peonies, ready to burst into fragrant bloom.

Before turning your attention to planting containers, digging and dividing perennials and tucking annuals into beds and borders, give a thought to next spring's garden. Consider a few spots for planting more tulips, especially pink ones.

The Beyond Pink TEAM, a non-profit program of the Cedar Valley Cancer Committee, is selling pink tulip bulbs to increase breast cancer awareness. The campaign is called "Plant it Pink," and shows support for breast cancer education, services and hope for those living in our communities who are affected by breast cancer.

In the past two years, the team has sold more than 10,000 pink tulips. "That's a good sign of support in the community. We want to have the whole Cedar Valley planted in pink tulips," said Dee Hughes, chairperson. Hughes is lead mammography technician at Allen Hospital.

Orders are being taken now through Aug. 15 for "Pink Impression" and "Ollioules" tulips. The team would be tickled pink to sell another 5,000 pink tulips for a total of 15,000 blooming in next spring's Cedar Valley gardens.

All proceeds from the sales are used to provide financial assistance to women with breast cancer and other Beyond Pink TEAM projects.

"This will be our third year to sell the 'Pink Impression' tulips. Last summer we added the 'Menton,' also," said Hughes. "This year we are selling the 'Ollioules' instead of 'Menton.' We intend to keep the 'Pink Impression' each year and then add a new second variety each year."

"Pink Impression" is a Darwin tulip, prized for its luminous pink globe-shaped flowers and strong stems, as well as repeat years of bloom. "Ollioules" is described as "old rose with a soft, marble-white edge."

The tulip-planting idea came from a brochure about a similar campaign at an Illinois cancer center. "We thought this would be a neat way to get attention, and it's really two-fold, to show awareness about the disease and the great treatment available locally, and provide funds for those who need support," said Hughes.

Originally the committee planted 400 bulbs in front of the Cancer Treatment Center at 200 E. Ridgeway Ave.

Tulip bulbs can be purchased for $10 for a dozen bulbs, $40 for 50 bulbs or $75 for 100 bulbs. Bulbs can be picked up from 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 17 at the Cancer Treatment Center for planting Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

For more information about placing orders, call Jill Roberts at 233-8911. Download the order form at www.cedarvalleybreastcancer.org.