Every single year I read the notice…
“Tulip Festival! Buy your tickets online to guarantee entry!”
And every year, I’d drive down the highway, attempting to spot the fields from a distance, to gauge if the visit would be worth it.
But I never did spot the fields. So I never did go.
However, this year I wanted to make the effort.
Blame it on social media. I’d spot all these prompts on Facebook or Instagram, and that made me hungry to see it all for myself!
We’ve been having a lot of rain lately, so this one day it was nice was the day to make a dash for it.
But I did not buy the tickets online. I took a gamble, and just went there after an appointment.
And I got in!
Along with a million other people… 🙂
Kinda like on the beaches in Hawaii.
Yep, lots and lots of people.
However if you were selective with your camera angle, you could still capture some pretty outstanding views.
As long as you didn’t look down. The media did warn you bang on… ‘Wear your boots, as this is a working farm.’
It was rather humorous seeing these gorgeous silky dresses flowing in the breeze between the flowers… along with their blue plastic bootie things full of mud over top nice shoes.
But we know it’s all about the selective capture.
And yes, the effort was indeed worth it.
The incredible mountain backdrop made me dream of visiting Ireland again.
I still want to go there. Probably by myself. Do you think it’s safe for a sole girl traveller in that region? Michael, what do you think? And where is your Ireland post? Cannot find… I’d love to link to it!
Until then, I have this mountain I suppose.
This tulip variety was named Canadian something or other, because it resembles our flag. So spectacular! They didn’t even look real.
And check out these stems. Love the leaf ripples!
It really was a lovely day I won’t soon forget.
But next time, I may try the booties. Heavy snow boots (it’s all I have) on a hot day proved interesting…
Do you have a tulip festival in your area?
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For a few other neat local sights in my area…
My glamping trip to the Othello Tunnels in Hope, BC
A tour of a junk filled local pub, Mission Springs
Multiple trips to the infamous Granny and Grumpa’s Antiques… BARNS of junk!
All my gorgeous nature filled bike rides along the river
.
Now I want to get out more!
Beautiful Donna! Loved the ‘camera angle’ with those lovely muddy boots! LOL! Seriously, the tulips looked lovely especially in the shot with the hills. If you ever make it to Ireland, I would surely appreciate any ‘camera angles’ you take. I know some others who have gone. It truly is a beautiful place – the ’emerald isle’ as it is often referred to due to the different shades of green. Have a great day!
Just lovely, makes me very, very happy to see such beautiful colors!
In our area, eastern North Carolina, we have an azalea festival. I’m sure the planners keep their fingers crossed so the flowers are at the height of their beauty during the festival. I prefer tulips any day, but our weather conditions don’t support their growth cycles. Either is doesn’t get cold enough over the winter or it’s too hot, I don’t know, but there is some reason why they don’t grow in our area. We had some when we lived in Ohio, and I miss them and our other flowers that we grew there.
Beautiful Donna. It almost looks photo shopped. Stunning photos.
Hi, I think the white and red tulips were bred to celebrate the 150th Year Anniversary of Canada. ann
Yes…we have an annual tulip festival in Holland, Michigan, near the shores of Lake Michigan. It happens to be right now; 5/6-5/14. I have gone several times, lots of people but love the never ending fields of color. Great visual that will last in my memory for a long time.
Thanks for sharing your adventure….we don’t have the mountains in the back drop!!!
I haven’t gone to a tulip festival but a local winery plants barrels and barrels of them each year which I must visit and share with my readers. I guess I can call it a mini festival.
I do visit Iris gardens each year of growers that are just spectacular with Iris for as far as the eye can see. We had to be careful of mud this year too, even in California we have been getting so much rain as to make it muddy when it usually isn’t.
No matter which flower they just look so gorgeous mass planted. Thank you for sharing your trip. 🙂
Lovely. We have a state tulip festival in Holland, Michigan.
For me, I am just as “taken” with pretty tulips in a yard. I like when colors and types are specifically selected as favs, perhaps with a color theme in mind. Maybe not the impact of fields of tulips, but the flowers are such jewels.
We have an iris farm in our area that puts on quite a display, free of charge, but you usually end up buying at least one of your favs. Also, and without a doubt my favorite, is the daylily farm. Oh my. The selection is beyond words. And another place that doesn’t charge, but sells the lilies so you go with money. Since daylilies vary in their flowering times, this is a trip you can take for several weeks/even months. Hardy and they multiply, I love the ones developed or hybrided in Siloam, Arkansas by a dear little lady in her nineties. All her hybrids have “Siloam” in their names. I have several.
Fabulous colors. I love them all. Tanks for making me smile to see such beautiful colors coming together as one.
I was in Mission on Saturday and had hoped to get to the Abbotsford Tulip Festival, but my grandkids and great-granny were moving too slowly (having fun with what they were doing!) so we never made it down the highway to the next exit.
You’re right! The fields are not visible from the main road. And you’re usually travelling too fast to see much of anything; the slower roads are always more scenic! Love your photos, and they show that it is definitely worth making the effort to get off the highway. There’s always next year …
Ya know, it is nice, but I’d suggest to go during the week. It only cost me $8, so much cheaper. And less people too!
Ohh, thanks for the tip!
stunning! I had no idea…would love to go one day with my mom
I am available as a traveling companion for Ireland if you would rather not go alone. : )
Good morning. The red and white tulips are Canada 150 tulips. Mass displays in Ottawa this year. Supposedly they were created in Holland specially for our 150 birthday. I bought a bunch last September for my garden at Cultus Lake and they were lovely.