Odd Tulip Blooms

I'm wondering why my red and yellow tulips created this multicolored bloom. Did I plant the bulbs too close together?

—Vonnie Jobe, West Des Moines, Iowa

Melinda: You didn't do anything wrong. Color changes like these are common. They're usually the result of a virus, an environmental response or a genetic mutation. In fact, it was a virus that caused the streaked tulips that resulted in the Tulipomania craze in Holland in the 1600s. At that time, the bulbs of some unique tulips were worth more than their weight in gold. I suggest you just enjoy this garden surprise and wait to see what appears next season.