Tip-toeing through the tulips proved to be too big a challenge, and Baltimore officials have decided to let the bulbs bloom before attempting to plant the third season of the City Hall vegetable garden this year.

It has been chilly, but the beds around War Memorial Plaza are expected to blossom soon. And when the tulips die back, volunteer members of the Master Gardeners and members of the City Department of Parks and Recreation will begin planting vegetables.

"This is likely the last year for the tulips," said Melissa Grim, acting chief of horticulture. "We decided to let them put on a good show."

It proved difficult -- physically and aesthetically -- for volunteers to plant early spring vegetables around the tulips. "It was a challenge," said Grimm.

That means there won't be as many of the greens and early peas as there have been in past years. The crops that go in -- probably in mid-May -- will be warm weather crops, such as tomatoes and peppers.

All of the food harvested from the City Hall gardens goes to Our Daily Bread, which serves hundreds of meals twice a day in the city. The fresh vegetables have been a welcome addition.