Tulips blooming are a sure sign of spring, but it seems the season came a little too early this year for Albany’s Tulip Fest.

And since a blooming tulip only lasts about three weeks, there’s little left for the celebrations this weekend.

Compare that to last year when Washington Park was in full bloom and visitors could get the full effect.

This year Jessica Morgan, the city's gardener, has been busy cutting out stems to make the arrangements a little more presentable without flowers.

Morgan says everything was done exactly the same way as previous years. She planted the same amount of tulips of different variety. The only variable was the weather.

Tulip bulbs are also planted in the fall. Morgan says they take a long winter nap and they particularly like the deep freeze. That didn't happen this year either which also affected the flowers.

CDPHP has announced a partnership with the Colonie Youth Center’s Rudy A. Ciccotti Family Recreation Center on a program that aims to improve the lives of people in the community living with a chronic condition.

According to a statement, the Well on Our Way program provides support and motivation to live a healthier lifestyle. The event will take place on Tuesday, May 8 at 10 a.m. at CYC’s Rudy A. Ciccotti Family Recreation Center located on 30 Aviation Road in Albany.

Doctors and cancer survivors will be in attendance.

A local non-profit that serves thousands of New Yorkers says it is in a financial bind because they are waiting for payment from state agencies.

Father Peter Young also worries that other non-profits could be facing the same problem.

Father Young told us he is sure he will get the money; it's just the delay that hurts. And he's not sure how he'll be able to pay his vendors and hundreds of employees.

We caught up with father peter young as he spoke to the capital district insurance community at the Albany Marriott on Wolf Road.

Peter Young Housing Industries and Treatment serves some 5,000 people across New York State.  Their mission is to help people fight alcohol and drug addiction, and to help the down and out get back into society, working and paying taxpayers.