Confession: I think I’ve become a flower person.
I’m not sure precisely when or how this happened.
Somehow, blooms that I’d usually walk past with just an “oh pretty”, now have me pulling out my camera, snapping away like a lunatic who has never seen nature before. I even drive out of my way specifically to look at flowers.
In my defense, I just spent my first full winter away from Australia’s very un-wintery climes. Months of damp and dreary Washington weather has made spring blooms something to look forward to. And while this area is always buzzing with deep emerald greenery, it’s been lovely to see hues of pink, red, purple and yellow bursting through the fields.
One thing is for sure, I have succumbed to the flower power.
Case in point: the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.
About the Tulip Festival
The annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival kicks off in April, when millions of tulips burst into bloom across the valley. The exact dates vary each year depending on the weather: this year’s early warm spell meant many fields were blooming from late March.
It turns out that I’m not the only one with Flower Fever. This is actually one of the biggest festivals in the Pacific Northwest, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the United States, as well as international tourists. It’s a particularly popular destination for artists and photographers too.
Just like the recent Daffodil Festival, the tulips are beautiful against the backdrop of rural Skagit Valley, striking Mt Baker and the Cascade range.
However, unlike the Daffodil Festival, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a much bigger event. This translates to much bigger crowds, designated parking areas, and entrance fees for most of the fields and display gardens. Even still, it’s certainly worth a visit.
Here are a few colourful snaps from my afternoon among the tulip fields at Roozengarde.
While the festival officially runs until April 30, most of the tulips are now gone (earlier bloom means an earlier finish!). I’m sure I will visit again in 2017!
For more details head to the official website.
Which is your favourite photo from the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival? Does your local area have any unique or interesting festivals?
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