A LINE of green thumbs stretched around the corner of the Bendigo Visitor Centre on Monday as people queued for tulip bulbs.
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After the City of Greater Bendigo's annual tulip dig was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, the parks team dug up the bulbs and prepared them for people.
Council visitor services manager Jemma Docherty said the bags of bulbs proved very popular.
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"We've sold out today (and) knowing how many people turn up to the dig normally, we're not surprised at all," she said. "We are getting some more, hopefully by weekend.
"The parks team was digging up, washing them and preparing them to be put straight back in to the ground when the time comes. So it's a longer process than what the dig might normally be."
Ms Docherty said many people said they preferred not having to get their hands dirty at the COVID-safe tulip dig.
"Some people commented they had family members who couldn't do the dig because of a disability, so they were able to come in and collect bulbs that way," she said. "Quite a few people commented on preferring this type of thing.
"It depends on how the parks team look at how they do (the dig) for the future. The bigger part is what COVID-19 looks like in future years."
The brown bags of tulip bulbs sell for $5.50 each with a limit of two per customer.
"We will try to get a communication out for when the next bulbs are available," Ms Docherty said. "It's looking like Saturday but it's important to call ahead to make sure we have got them. It will be first in best dressed, we can't put any on hold."