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The second annual Abbotsford Tulip Festival is getting underway now but the event is still at the mercy of Mother Nature.

Three million tulips are planted in the fields but only 30 of them are currently blooming.

Last year, at this time, up to 40 per cent of the flowers were showing their colours.

The record rainfall in March put a damper on the festival with the tulips blooming seven to 10 days later than normal and four weeks later than in 2016.

“It’s just been very cold,” said Alexis Warmerdam with the Abbotsford Tulip Festival. “We’ve had one of the coldest winters in a long time, lots of snow, cold night temperatures, it’s been all of those things. They’ve just taken a long time to bloom.”

The festival runs from April 10 until May 7.

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