Features > General > Tiptoe through the Tulips in Skagit Valley WA
The cool, drizzly Northwestern spring days are flooded with color. Each April since 1984, Skagit Valley has welcomed visitors lured by the lush array of bulbs in bloom. The main attraction is the hundreds of acres of tulips that line roads, fill greenhouses and dance shyly in display gardens. Daffodils and irises are also grown in the valley, but they've taken a backseat to their dainty cousins.
Tulips originated in Turkey and Afghanistan and eventually made their way to Holland. In 1906, local gardener Mary Brown Stewart imported a few of the bulbs from Holland; her mail-order business took off with orders from garden clubs in the Northeast. Mrs. Stewart's small business has flourished into a booming industry: The Washington Bulb Company, Inc. owns the mail order company that underwrites tulips.com , which offers fresh-cut tulips every day of the year. For those interested in the awe-inspiring sight of acres of the bright blooms, head to Skagit Valley any time in April.
For a relaxed tour of the tulip fields, rent an RV. The festival has long encouraged this mode of transport; specialized tours can be scheduled by calling 360-428-5959. If you˜re looking for a way to incorporate your daily exercise with scenery, try one of the bike tours . Cindy Verge, Executive Director of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, recommends cycling through the fields midweek because there is less motor traffic.
Each year the Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue serves an average of 11,000 salmon meals, says Verge. Our three-day street fair features 100+ vendors and has an annual attendance of 10,000 to 12,000; PACCAR features an open house at its test and development center here. Our events are very diverse and offer something for everyone.
Verge points out that Skagit Valley is known for its spring rains. Be sure to pack rain gear and layer your clothes (the days can be chilly). The damp conditions also lead to muddy fields so you'll want old shoes for walking “ and another pair to put on once you're done traipsing through the gardens and fields.
For more information, about the festival, go to www.tulipfestival.org .
By Anna Philpot
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