Skagit Valley Tulip Festival...

During Spring, one of my all time favorite day trips in the state of Washington, is visiting the tulip festival up in beautiful Mt Vernon and Skagit Valley. The never ending sea of tulips and daffodils really is a sight to see! Only second largest to the tulip fields in Holland, the Skagit Valley offers one of those picturesque displays of endless rows of color that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Tulip fields in Skagit Valley WA

Reds, purples, yellows, pinks striping the landscape like a painting, really a sight that Monet would be inspired by.

...nature at its most colorful!

This was my first year back in quite sometime. In the past it has been too wet and rainy, gosh in Seattle...really? or the blooms came early and we missed them all together. OK really it was because it's no fun with two little kids who insist that the tulips are for picking!

This year however I was a little more on the ball, plus the kids are older so I can sigh with relief that I don't have to worry about them picking mommy a lovely bouquet. Or having them run out into the fields "prohibited" row areas while in chase like prison escapees, or some Benny Hill skit!

Mud was the real treat for the boys. Again lady with the white coach bag, I am sorry my son accidentally splattered mud on you while he was trying innocently to jump across the mud. But really a white "expensive" huge handbag in a muddy tulip field, what were you thinking?

My two crazies running through the daffodil fields, Skagit Valley WA

Between the crowds (OK we did go on a weekend, the same weekend as the Mt Vernon Street Festival which I think has to be one of the best street fairs in WA) And yes it was a beautiful, gorgeous, summery 70degrees of sunshiny goodness. I think the rest of WA decided to show-up the day we went too. We captured glimpses of fields void of humans and gosh what an awesome site! The RoozenGarde Fields, my fave! The one with the windmill, they by far put on their best display of tulips yet.
The varieties and the planting formations were just breathtaking, the gardens alone were worth the admission and then you get to the fields, just sublime!

My tips on how to do the Tulip festival...

• If you can, go on a week day to avoid crowds and traffic! This is one of WA biggest tourist attractions for the year.
• If you go on the weekend plan to get there early or late to miss the main crowds, plus these times make for the best lighting for photography...bonus! Go expecting crowds, especially if it is a rare perfect sunny PNW day!
• Don't be afraid to go when its rainy, galoshes and umbrellas make for great props in pics, you can capture great reflection pics of the tulips reflecting in the rows of water, the crowds are at their lowest, plus mud is fun!!
• Go towards the end of the grow season, they are usually at their fullest bloom for optimum color impact out in the field. Also they start discounting potted bulbs that are past their bloom in the store, great to plant for next year in your own garden, what better souvenir!
• Drive around and take advantage of the fields that are accessible from the side of the road. They don't mind and they block of the ones that do. There is a wonderful Daffodil field which are happy to let you run out into, there's street parking and no crowds, its on the far north outskirts of the tulip fields...and its free! The big gardens which are totally worth the visit, charge anywhere from $4 - $5 an adult.
• Tulip fields are not the place for designer handbags, high heels and your Sunday best, unless you don't mind a little mud!
• If you can, don't take boys who complain that flowers are for girls the entire time you are there!  

These red tulips were beyond stunning up close and in person, the perfect blooms didn't look real, so vibrant and full of energy! They screamed "come run through me!" very mischievous they were.

 

 

I love the captured reflection in the rain ditch.

If you ever get out to Washington state in April, this really is a must do. However if you can't make it, here are some more bloggers who posted their spectacular tulip festival blooms.... 

North West Photos: April is the month for Tulip Festivals  Great pics!

My Secret Garden: Stunning Tulips of Skagit Valley WA  4 part series...beautiful!

Also check out these helpful links: 

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Bloom Map and website for more details..

http://www.tulipfestival.org and http://www.visitskagitvalley.com

Some great reviews on yelp: Yelp reviews on Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Washington State Tulip Festival Location and Directions

Succulent wreaths at the Seaside

Living wall art seems to be quite the rage at the moment. I would love to learn how to achieve it on a large scale. The thought of covering an unsightly fence or brick wall with juicy, vivid succulents just seems so irresistible. And what a perfect alternative for a garden when there is no yard to plant lushness. Not to mention they really are quite a show stopper. I thought for now, I will just start out small and try my hand at a living wreath, (which can actually double as al center piece too...bonus!)

While on vacation on the Oregon coast last week, (Yes, I have hundreds of pics and mostly from gardens and local nurseries, ok a few of the family playing at the beach too, but one of my fave vaca pleasures is to check out the local gardens) So while on my "me-time" I came across a gorgeous little flower store called "The natural nook" loved it! Actually spent way to much time in there, sorry boys! But I did come across this beautiful inspiration....

I would have bought one of these stunners on the spot and marked it up as a "very impractical souvenir" so photos will have to suffice. I am particularly fond of the one on the bottom right, the succulents in all shades of green with pops of purple, its just stunning! The two upper ones are actually herb wreaths, again what great creativity and a beautiful idea for a gift. I would love to make one of these herb wreaths as a center piece for my out door dinning area, place a big hurricane candle in the middle and take a pinch of basil to add to a freshly made bowl of pasta...oh happy days! I just need a warm summer breeze and a glass of wine to complete that perfect picture.

Thanks for the inspiration and eye candy http://www.seasidenaturalnook.com/ I can not wait to try this as one of my summer projects.

Here is a wonderful step by step tutorial from http://www.sparrowpost.net/oldschool/wreath.html How fun!!

Have you ever tried making one of these, been given one as a gift or like me its been on your "maybe one-day" list? I'd love to hear your experiences, also where you would put it. I'll post an update this summer when I attempt this, wish me luck!!

Here are a few more happy snaps of their back-alley nursery, what a happy little nook...loved it!

Seattle Fling....are you going?

So who's coming to Seattle in July for the latest Garden Blogging Fling?

I am seriously considering attending, but am so new to the world of garden blogging let alone a "Fling" I thought I would post here to get some opinions and feed back as to what I can expect. It sounds fun, but is it something for a novice like myself? Have you been to a previous Fling or are you thinking of going to this one? I would love to hear your suggestions, thoughts or reviews...thanks!!!

For those of you who have not heard of this event, its 4 days of planned private and public garden touring, while meeting other garden bloggers, strolling local farmers markets, dinning on plot-to-plate yummies, checking out community gardens and other wonderful things Seattle gardening has to offer.
Check out more here......
http://seattlegardenbloggers2011.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/summer-fling-in-seattle/

Maybe I'll see you there!

Tulips make a scene.....

I have lost count of the number of mornings I have grabbed my coffee, peeked out the window, held my breath and hoped for a show! This year my tulips popped up in early Feb, yes that early and that long ago...gosh they have kept me on my toes. So you can imagine how exciting it was when I saw them start to bud, man it really got my hopes up for an early spring! Litrely months have gone by and only now, finally, are their true colors bursting through and making quite the colorful scene! Happy days my tulips have arrived.....

There are somethings I need to learn about tulips...
For example, these ones near the garage door were bright red last year. Do tulips really change color? or am I really just imagining it? I have even had some pop up that were pink last year and yet white this year...strange!!
Secondly, Do tulips really need to be dug up and saved from "burrowing"? I have heard that they can dig down only to get so deep they get lost? I just find all this so interesting!!
Finally, I have had a number of tulips come up this year only to never produce a flower? Could this be the last I see of this tulip, does it mean its little life is over? How long do tulips last for? or could it just be sick?



I am fascinated with my tulips. I think mainly because the anticipation on their arrival has consumed my morning happenings. I really do love this flower, in my garden or arranged in a vase. Stunning, artistic and architectural, they really are a unique flower that welcome my every morning!

 
I believe the tulips in my garden are mainly called the "Dutch Miracle" pretty pinks, purples, whites...I love them! This fall I would love to plant some more exotic bulbs and try these beautiful varieties. The Debonair and the Angelique...stunning!

 The beautiful Angelique and the purple & white Debonair

Here are some tulip sites that are so inspiring and full of color. I am really looking forward to finding out some wonderful tulip facts as well as trying my hand at some different varieties.

http://www.rose-gardening-made-easy.com/types-of-tulips.html A nice article on varieties

http://www.tulipfestival.org/ outside of Holland, Washington state has the next largest Tulip industry. Festival on now!
http://tulipcaretips.com/  A wonderful blog with everything you need to know about growing

Something I have learnt all to well this year, is that sadly, the moles and squirrels love eating the bulbs...noooo!

Wordless Wednesday...enchanting corners

garden shows & mischeivious paths....

I couldn't believe today was the big day...Finally! After months of counting down and dreaming about my own garden, it was now time for the first glimpse of Spring. This show is always the first sign that garden season is fast approaching for the year...woo hoo! I could not wait to see what was install for us!

It truly is my happy place! Ahhh, makes me giddy just thinking about all the joy it brings.
So my garden buddies and I bundled up and headed into town for a day of pure bliss and meeting new plants...It did not disappoint! The displays were breathtaking and beyond inspiring. There was such a variety of plants and so many different ways to group them. So much creativity and talent. Not to mention so much garden love going on. My favorite garden was totally drool worthy and it was all I could do to not snap a thousand photos. These pics really don't do it justice...

What a gorgeous fresh and whimsical country garden! So much happiness in such a small plot. I could have just sat there for hours and soaked it all in, but thankfully I have pics so I can try and implement some of this happiness into my own yard...Loved it!

I was also there to get ideas for hard-scapes as I am dying to put in a path down the east side of the property (ie, side that gets absolutely no sun and is wonderful at growing moss!) Its screaming for a flagstone path like this....

I am in love with the large flagstone surrounded by moss and mulch, it is just so earthy and natural, the curves of the path adds a whimsy and playfulness to where the path is going. The moss provides a softness to the hard edge of the stone and adds again another playful element, a plant you walk on...Oh how mischievous!

 Here is some more visual yumminess....

Some of my new loves from the show are the beautiful little ground covers, the grouping of all white flowers and the amazing array of succulents. In particular the living wall below by Ravena Gardens, beautiful display! Another fave is the use of moss. The varieties, the colors, the many different ways of grouping it with plants and hard-scape. I am sold and will be using more moss "on purpose" in my garden planning this year.
Looking forward to getting out in my garden now...Snow its time for you to melt and let Spring arrive!!