The Tulips of Skagit Valley

Kathy Riordan

Location: Florida, United States
Birthday: April 27

Bio: One woman's view of life and the universe. Follow @katriord on Twitter.

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Some of my favorite posts:: When Mayo Clinic Speaks, I Listen; Incognito in Istanbul; Such a Death
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Editor’s Pick

APRIL 19, 2011 9:33AM

Rate: 30 Flag

It's early still in northern Washington, in sleepy towns like La Conner and Mount Vernon, bulbs just waking up in midwinter spring.

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Every year the rite continues, pilgrims come, first the daffodils, and then the tulips, cut for the taking, like a Parisian shopkeeper's window.

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Like those before us, we trudge through mud for a fleeting fragile beauty. Ninja. Ad Rem. Orange Emperor. Apeldoorn. Carpets of blue hyacinths. They are all here.

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Bouquets will do for now, arms filled with vibrance, soon to be gone.

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Author tags:

photography, tourism, travel, la conner washington, mount vernon washington, spring, spring flowers, easter, washington state, roozengaarde, tulips skagit valley, tulip town, skagit valley tulip festival, pacific northwest, skagit valley washington, tulips

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Comments

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Kathy, this is so beautiful. The tulips on my dining room table are weeping...:) ~r

Joan H.

April 19, 2011 09:38 AM

Beautiful pics and welcome to Washington state. The tulip fields that you depict play are an important backdrop in a screenplay that I'm finalizing. Beautiful area!

Roger Fallihee

April 19, 2011 09:43 AM

So beautiful! I sent this on to my dear friend-tulips are her favorite flower.

lschmoopie

April 19, 2011 09:57 AM

Random and symmetrical all at once. The colors excite and soothe as well. Thank you for this!

Linnnn

April 19, 2011 10:01 AM

Pretty, pretty!!!!

SheilaTGTG55

April 19, 2011 10:03 AM

Lovely pictures. Thank you.

Christine Geery

April 19, 2011 10:22 AM

Lovely. Now that I live in the South, I really and truly miss the miracle of spring and tulips. We can grow them, but they don't last long. If it's unusually hot, the sun dries out the petals rather quickly.

From The Midwest

April 19, 2011 10:28 AM

Wow. Take THAT, Holland.

Myriad

April 19, 2011 10:37 AM

You just made me so homesick for Bellingham, my auntie Katie, and La Conner. I went to school up there a couple times, and loved to visit the tulips at Mt. Vernon in spring. Thanks for sharing this!

Maureen J Andrade

April 19, 2011 11:38 AM

there is something about tulips. I came home yesterday and the were some in a vase on the table...a welcome baby gift for my daughter's newest baby. They made me want to sing (and I'm not a singer)

Mimetalker

April 19, 2011 11:49 AM

I planted some but never got even one tulip...so this is almost as good...better really, such a wonderful riot of colors!

BuffyW

April 19, 2011 12:01 PM

Kathy, this is my pilgrimage to pay homage to spring every year. Are you here? If you are, I hope you are enjoying yourself and I truly hope the weather improves for your visit.

Sparking

April 19, 2011 12:21 PM

gorgeous

Nikki Stern

April 19, 2011 12:39 PM

Just gorgeous...isn't it just freezing this 'spring'??
Those photos help : )

Just Thinking...

April 19, 2011 12:56 PM

Welcome to the northwest, Kathy! I love tulip season. Thanks so much for the photos.

froggy

April 19, 2011 01:01 PM

I was just told that they were not all in bloom yet! I'm planning to go up and see them in a week or so. There's nothing else like it (except maybe Holland)!

trilogy

April 19, 2011 01:06 PM

Perfect for the cover...congrats!

Just Thinking...

April 19, 2011 01:22 PM

wow--we were in the Northwest last summer, now we'll have to go back in the spring 'cause my wife loves tulips.

Con Chapman

April 19, 2011 02:13 PM

Thank you for sharing these gorgeous tulips, Kathy!

clay ball

April 19, 2011 03:01 PM

Simply gorgeous! What treat for me on this winterlike Chicago day.

Rebecca Sarwate

April 19, 2011 04:43 PM

Oh, how amazing. Reminds me of Holland, Michigan where tulips are also grown. Great photos Kathy. RRRR And congrats on the well deserved EP.

Amy A

April 19, 2011 05:12 PM

Beautiful!

Sirenita Lake

April 19, 2011 05:37 PM

I was in Chevy Chase, MD last week and the swaths of flowers swirling across little hills and in landscapes were just breathtaking all the way into DC and around the city. Such an incredible time to live in the northern latitudes - even if this is on the other end - in the other Washington.

Gabby Abby

April 19, 2011 05:50 PM

Just amazing, Kathy...not here yet...looks like we're going to get a last snow...then it's our turn! I very much want to learn about the varities of tulips and plant some...as I am in the land of Dutch history in America...xox

Robin Sneed

April 19, 2011 06:18 PM

I've been there and you captured it beautifully. Thank you!!

zanelle

April 19, 2011 08:05 PM

I was born in western Washington (Tacoma), and raised in the east (Wenatchee). I don't think I've ever been up north. The Orange Emperors are my favorites...made my eyes smile. Thanks for the treat.

bluestocking babe

April 19, 2011 08:09 PM

beautiful. especially taken by the red ones with the edging of thin white on petal tips.

maria heng

April 19, 2011 10:07 PM

GORGEOUS!

AtHomePilgrim

April 20, 2011 04:59 AM

Lovely photos, Kathy! Gardens are so healing, and tulips are the most beautiful of all.

Lea Lane

April 20, 2011 07:13 AM

I dreampt I
saw
the
bummers

Peace and love to you and y

J.P. Hart

April 20, 2011 08:11 AM

Kathy, In these rainy days I really appreciate you sending such beauty.

Scarlett Sumac

April 20, 2011 10:42 AM

I absolutely love walking through gardens. I love the sign that says "please don't walk in beds" -can you imagine somebody tip-toeing through the tulips!!!!!!
rated
Congrats on the EP!

Susie Lindau

April 20, 2011 11:11 AM

This was especially poignant for me, as the last trip I made with my late wife, just 4 months before her death was to see the tulips in Skagit Valley in the spring of 2004. I especially wanted her to know about LaConner. It was a lovely trip, and she was quite happy. Your words and pictures brought those days in 2004 back beautifully, thanks.