Skagit Valley Tulips

The Skagit Valley in northwestern Washington State is one of the major tulip and daffodil bulb producing regions in the world. In April people flock the The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival,  and aside from the rainbow fields scattered around the valley, the premier viewing place is Roozengaard Display Gardens. 

After driving up Whidbey Island, over Deception Pass, and traversing Fidalgo Island, we had crossed over the Swinomish Channel, we had arrived at the Skagit Valley, where we spent two wonderful hours at Christianson's Nursery, as I showed you in the last post.

Now it was time for some serious tulip viewing. But it was well past 1:00, so we took time for some lunch first. 

When we're out exploring, we don't do fancy. :-)

OK, get ready for a photo dump!

 New this year is the use of Crown Imperial Fritillarias. 

There will be plenty of blooms yet for next weekend. 

 Princess Irene tulips!

 These fringed tulips were very intriguing. 

 

 

 Not just doubles, but triples.

 Hearts!

 Stars!

 Bulb fields are rotated each year, so it's only about every three years that we have growing fields right behind the display garden. It's the best!

 

 Expecting muddy field conditions after days of rain, we were prepared, with our Muck Boots on.

Here we go, into the fields.

 

 Back in the display garden. 

 A Muscari (Grape hyacinth) Seahawk!

We didn't spend much time in the gift shop. We were color saturated and beauty satiated. There is another great visitor place, Tulip town, but we didn't need it.  We were ready to move on, but not to quit. We had more exploring to do!