Our hop over the Atlantic is coming soon. After all of the planning, preparation, research, and anticipation, we are chomping at the bit to be on our way. We have been planning this trip for over a year, across two states, 3 homes, and multiple mini vacations. The itinerary is set, and the time until departure has gone from months to hours in what seems to be the blink of an eye.

Before we leave, we found a local attraction that provides a taste of what’s to come. The Tulip Festival of Skagit Valley is what Pacific Northwesterners get in trade for enduring more than their fair share of rainy weather. In lieu of a shadow scoping marmot, our ground dwelling season signalers burst forth in the millions to announce Spring has come. Sprawling acres of vibrantly colored flowers overwhelm the senses.

It is gorgeous and we had no idea it would be so memorable.

We have been to a flower festival before. Specifically, the Carnation festival in Carlsbad, California. While it was fun to ride a horse drawn buggy along the fields of flowers, it did not hold a candle to what we saw recently. First, the carnation fields back up to huge houses and are nestled inside of a bustling city. The tulip fields have only the snow-capped mountains to contrast them, and a babbling stream is the only hurried resident to get past. Time slows to the metronome of these HUGE flowers. That is another point worth stressing. The flowers themselves are massive. Think of a newborn that can not support its own head, but must be cradled by a caretaker. Like that, but prettier and far more brightly colored.

Quieter too…I digress.

HUGE

People are known to travel across states and countries to visit this area in full bloom. We were fortunate enough to beat the crowds by going during the week. So, after work, a shower, and a change in wardrobe, we were on our way. One of the features of our city is we seem to be on the edge of southern civilization, as our few trips farther north have produced spaced out plots of land and panoramic views of peaks and valleys. Driving through Skagit Valley to reach the garden produced scenes of shops that seemed frozen in time, preserved with care to complete the small town feel.

After a taste of the downtown area, we arrived alongside one of the larger fields. You can see the fields for free from their perimeter, but you would be penny-wise and pound foolish to not take in all that the interior of the farms have to offer. To start, the ornate garden area beyond the entry gate has a preview of some of the more intricate flowers the growers have to offer. From monochromatic to multicolored, with soft edges and spiked tips, the tulips come in every color under the sun (and rainbow). A sales pamphlet was our all-knowing tour guide, informing us of the growing season, names of individual strains, and much more. Encapsulating the garden were large trees that obscured our view of the fields to come.

We wound our way through the garden at a gradual pace. Nicole and her Canon waltzed through the hilltops, dipping low and craning high to find the perfect angle, that moment between gusts of wind where the flowers were frozen in time and space, so that she may share a piece of what we saw with all of you, and preserve it for the two of us.

Per example

Where horticulture and fluid dynamics meet. A flower river? You know you are impressed.

All of this was well worth the cost of entry (it was $7 per person if you were wondering).  Yet, the day was far from over. Once we broke away from the meticulously arranged tulips and petaled compatriots, beyond the trees filling our view with bark and leaf, the veil was lifted and we were shown the true opulence of the area.

Acres upon acres of tulips, radiant in the sun unfolded before us. As a bonus, a light rain shower in the distance cast out a rainbow crown over the seemingly endless flowers. We were kids in a candy store, hopping along the fields as we took in all we could of this special treat.  We were overjoyed to be taking in all these sights, little happy pills lined up and down the dirt with no worry of having too much.

The fields have strong ties to Holland. An English immigrant, George Gibbs, came to the area in the late 1880s and planted some bulbs to test the areas ability to grow the flowers. He found success, and sought out Dutch growers advice to improve his results. Gibbs learned that the Dutch were secretive about their methods. Unfazed, he continued on and eventually interested the Dutch enough for them to come see the area for themselves. Successes were built upon, and another grower by the name of William Roozen took the torch to further advance the practice. Our visit took place in his Roozengaarde fields. Over 47 acres in total, 25 of which are for tulips and the rest for daffodils.

The day was brought to a close by visiting the town of La Conner’s namesake brewery. Skagit County hosts an impressive number of breweries in what appeared to be a sparsely populated area. The taphouses are scattered among the shorelines and piers. We could not help but walk the docks in front of the restaurant to take in the scenery before finally going inside to sip, chat, and dine. All too soon were our bellies full and the sun below the horizon; our consolation being that this place was but a short car ride away. Getting back  led us through more impressive expanses before eventually spilling us onto the main highway for home.

 

Courtesy of Washington Bulb Co., Inc.