Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Spring has been slow to arrive in the Pacific Northwest this year. It’s been rather cool. It’s been rather rainy. I’m talking no sun, people. Like, no sun. We’re supposed to have at least a teeny, weeny, little bit. This is abnormal, even for Seattle. And the rain, don’t even get me started. It’s a good thing I like precipitation of all types. If you are looking for an interesting weather read, check out this article in the Seattle Times. We’re breaking records, people!

For those of us who come into the world predisposed to reflect a lighter shade of pale, this means our skin is becoming translucent, and trust me, it’s not pretty. Pasty is not sexy. Not unless we’re talking about what strippers wear, or the UK definition, which is another word for a tasty meat pie. And, we’re not. Although for the record, since I took you by the hand and led you down this road, I’d like to say that I think the sexiness of the stripper version is way overrated. On the other hand, the meat pie version is definitely sexy. No question about it. Meat, potatoes, and onions, all wrapped in a flaky crust. Yum. But, I digress. At a certain point, if you live in the PNW, your skin begins to take on the same hue as a cave dwelling animal. And, after the past six months, I am well on my way to looking like I have never seen the sun. Because, I haven’t. At least not in more months than I can count on one hand.

However, there is a positive side to this particular spring. The cool, rainy weather has impacted the growing season in a way that makes me bubble over with happiness. Most years, the daffodils and tulips stand patiently in line and take turns to see who will show off in any given week. This year, they have extended their lifespans in a way that doubles, or even triples, value for money spent. I have daffodils just finishing up in my yard, but I simultaneously have tulips! And so did the Skagit Valley fields when I ventured across the water for a day. I have never seen them looking quite so glorious. While there were certainly some tulip varieties that hadn’t yet shown their colors, most of the plantings were standing at attention in full parade mode. It was extraordinary.

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival takes place right outside the town of Mount Vernon, about an hour north of Seattle if traffic isn’t an issue. And, lucky me, I have visited them many times before. Each time sticks out in my memory for a different reason. Sometimes the day trip is remarkable for the weather. One year it rained, hailed, and was sunny, all in the same afternoon. Usually layers of clothes are mandatory for staying warm in the chilly, spring air. But, every few years you win the flower field weather lottery. When it’s warm and sunny you truly feel like tiptoeing through the tulips, moving from one bejeweled field to another, reveling in the fresh air, sunshine and vibrant colors.

Sometimes the day trip is significant for the company. One year my friend, Kerri, and I took our three little kids together and had fun watching them stomp around the muddy fields all afternoon. On that same trip we spotted a bright red tulip, all alone in a grassy field.

This time was noteworthy because the fields were truly spectacular and there were really cool kites flying nearby. I want the giant octopus! Plus, Mr. C and I were with my parents. My mom is color obsessed, just like me. If you’re like us and remember things based upon where they fall on the color wheel, walking through the fields is like a marvelous flower feast. Each course, sweet and satisfying, but you’re still left anticipating whatever marvel the chef is going to serve next.

Speaking of food, we stopped for breakfast at a cute little place in La Conner called Calico Cupboard Cafe & Bakery. I ate the Brussels Sprout Hash, one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Seriously. Delicious. And the bakery side of things was filled with cases of tempting treats just begging to go home with us. Just in case you’re wondering, some of them did. Although, it was a long car ride. They didn’t actually make it all the way home. In fact, they didn’t even make it back to the ferry.

On the trip back across Puget Sound I wasn’t willing to stay in the car. The skies were blue and the sun was warm. I rode up top with my camera, soaking up as many sunny moments as I could capture between one side and the other. I wasn’t alone up there. People were walking along the deck, enjoying the view of the mountains and the water. And there was a group of seagulls riding the wind just a few feet from the side of the boat. It was a lovely end to a perfect family day spent reveling in the sun, the wind, and all the colors of the rainbow.