Tucked along Franklin Street in downtown Pella stands the Klokkenspel, a charming carillon tower where music drifts through the air and stories of the past quietly unfold.

Eight mechanical figurines emerge throughout the day — four representing Pella’s early Dutch settlers and four honoring Tulip Time traditions, like the wooden shoemaker, flower girls, and street scrubbers. Surrounding the base of the tower are arched niches lined with Dutch tiles, each hand-painted to depict scenes of life in Holland. Together, the music, movement, and artistry make this space feel like a little piece of the Netherlands, right here in Iowa.

🌷 A Perfect Stop — and a Rare Bloom Worth the Visit

While the Klokkenspel offers its own show, this corner of town is also home to some of my favorite local spots. Clover Leaf makes the perfect lunch stop, while DeKelder, a cozy speakeasy tucked behind the very same door, is a great place to unwind for dinner. From the nearby Peanut Pub patio, you can catch a view of the Spirit of Pella mural — a beautiful nod to the pride and creativity of this community.

And if you’re there, be sure to try the seasonal Tulip Beer from Gezellig Brewing Company — a women-owned brewery right here in Pella. The beer is brewed with real petals from tulips grown at Nunnikhoven Farm, the same local farm where we source many of our tulips at Thistles Flower Market.

🖤 The Nightmare Tulip: A Rare Beauty in Bloom

In the spirit of sharing something truly special, this stop on the garden tour gives us the perfect moment to highlight one of the rarest tulips available through PellaTulipBulbs.com — the Nightmare Tulip.

Often described as one of the darkest tulips in the world, the Nightmare tulip blooms in rich, inky shades of deep purple to near-black. With its velvety petals and elegant height, it makes a striking statement in any garden bed or bouquet.

This variety is available only while supplies last — offered in very limited quantities due to its rarity.

If you’ve ever dreamed of planting something truly unique, this is your chance to bring home a bloom unlike any other.

🌿 Order the Nightmare Tulip today through PellaTulipBulbs.com before it’s gone.