Bloomin' Beautiful!

Washington's Colorful Tulip Fest

by Gavin Ehringer

You're driving down the Interstate and something catches your eye in the rural valley rushing by in your peripheral view. The fields seem surreal, like giant, brightly-colored circus tents laid across the landscape, waiting to be raised. You turn your head once, twice, in wonder. Then, you begin to make sense of this awesome spectacle: acres upon acres of tulips growing in orderly rows. Literally millions of flowers reaching for the sky to bloom in bright patches of red, pink, purple, lavender, and multi-hued combinations of all of them.

Even knowing you are headed to one of the greatest garden displays on earth, you are simply not prepared for the sheer gaudy audacity of Washington's Skagit Valley in April. Tthe annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a celebration of springtime and the precocious tulip, which stores its energy in fat bulbs to leap up in springtime and thus gain the favor of pollinating bees awakening from their winter slumber.

Washington is the largest producer of bulbs in North America, second only to Holland in the world. Growers discovered that Washington's mild climate, ample rainfall, and volcanic soils were ideal for Holland tulips, and native Dutchmen brought their knowledge to Skagit Valley to establish the bountiful fields. Generations later, the Skagit Valley is firmly established as a world-class agricultural area and the entire valley and its quaint farming towns actively promote the annual festival with parades, musical performances, a running race, and of course, acres upon acres of flowers on exhibit.

Skagit Valley is located 60 miles north of downtown Seattle and is easily reached via the central Interstate, I-5. Though there are nine exits one can take, if you take exit 226 and head west on McLean Rd., you'll catch the sight of the most flashy of the display gardens, the RoozenGaarde. After spending an hour or so there strolling the gardens (and placing bulb orders, which will ship to your home at the proper time for planting), you can continue down McClean to intersect Best Rd. A right-hand turn here takes you to Tulip Town, another large and popular display garden. In addition, you can view dozens of less-formal garden displays and tulip fields throughout the valley, including fields of the popular daffodils for which Washington State is also well-regarded.

One warning: the tulip fields in springtime are almost invariably muddy and the soft clay soil is slick and messy. Be sure to take a pair of waterproof boots and a raincoat, maybe even an umbrella. You won't regret taking this precaution! Photographers will want to allow extra time to explore the valley, as the sublime beauty of the fields can't be easily captured with a few quick snap shots. Take a tripod for the best exposures.

It's your option to take in some of the many other tulip fields and gardens in the area. But no visit to Skagit County would be complete without a stopover in LaConner, the quaintly picturesque Victorian-era village on the valley's southwest side. Here you can dine at a number of restaurants overlooking a narrow ship's canal and stroll the streets, which feature many art galleries, curio shops, and wine sellers.

For more information on the tulip festival and touring the Skagit Valley, go to www.tulipfestival.org