A geophyte seems like the perfect kind of flower to post in celebration of Earth Day’s 40th Birthday.

The etymology of the word geophyte is Greek: from geo- (meaning earth or ground) plus -phyte (plant or growth). It relates to the plant’s underground storage organ. Yes, geophyte is a fancy word for bulb, corm, rhizome or tuber.

This particular geophyte emerges from a bulb, Tulipa tarda, a sunny little species tulip currently coming to its finale in my garden, due to Toronto’s early spring 2010.

Happy Birthday, Earth Day. Let’s all do what we can to make it earth day, every day.