Skagit Valley Tulip Festival....anyone else????

[Russ]

This has been a cold, wet, and blustery late winter and early Spring so far, thus all the more reason to get a supercharge of spring colors. Nothing can do that moreso than a photo-meander thru the Skagit Valley tulip fields near Mt Vernon, WA. Their annual festival is April 1-30 although right now everything is looking a little late, ie preceding blooms from daffodils are JUST starting now. Best target right now is mid April, to be adjusted as we get nearer to a date. Here's a link to their Daily Bloom Status Report.

If the weather is warm and sunny on a weekend, the fields will be packed with other tourists....not my 1st choice. You can still do it IF you're there at 1st and last light......gawkers are normally midday folks!!! The festival proudly proclaims "over 1 million visitors", most of 'em on a few nice weekend days!!! There's over 300 acres of tulips and additionally daffodils (earlier) and iris (later) fields.

Besides the fields themselves there are several display gardens where flowers are displayed and labeled in a more concentrated manner to demonstrate how they can be grouped and/or used in landscaping. I find the Roozengaarde one consistently the best. They are now $5/person entry and unfortunately don't open until 9 AM, about the time hordes start to arrive. Midweek visits are best but still can be crowded.

Ideally 1st and last light are best and perhaps an hour or so after/before although I've shot throughout the day before. A lot of the conditions are determined by weather and associated lighting, ie cloudy (diffused), sunny (contrasty but good backlighting ops), or worst windy. April in PNW can present any or all conditions. Daylight (based on April 16) is 6:20 AM to 8 PM with civil twilight 5:48 AM to 8:48 PM.....a long day by anyone's standards and best interspersed with other things. Fortunately nearby LaConner has a great lunch/"refreshment" tavern (courtesy of LynnP) and quaint village/seaport ambience. Also nearby are wildlife refuges and gateways to the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades (although not open thru this time of year).

I've used EVERYTHING from super telephoto to ultra wide angle to closeup (ext tubes or closeup lens), to macro, with and without fill flash (mostly without). A tripod and cable release is highly recommended as is a reflector (for either reflecting fill light in or shading). Patience (particularly if breezy) is a plus. I use knee pads and wear clothes I don't mind getting dirty/muddy/wet. A change in the car is recommended. Bring enough water and snacks so that you don't have to disrupt your rhythm if shooting.

BTW: if you are there separately PLEASE be an ambassador for all photographers, graciously answering the inevitable questions/comments you'll get. Don't impede the viewing or enjoyment of others by telling people to move out of your landscape view or block walkways with you and/or your tripod legs. Don't trespass or go into fields marked closed. If you see another photographer (I'm not talking P&S'ers here) acting irresponsibly I'll politely but more importantly unambiguous way correct 'em!

PM or reply here if you're interested in the possibility of a rendezvous at the fields. I'm uncertain yet as to whether I'll daytrip or camp at a nearby state park, doing the PM session and following AM. You can join for all or part of my session(s). For further "inspiration" check out older posts by searching on "Skagit tulip".

[ghost762]

I'll be heading out there sometime Russ. That all depends on my school schedule.

[LynnP]

You can count me in. But I guess you knew that already.


Lynn

[Russ]

Here's an updated (4/11) bloom map report. It appears that the 1st fields are just starting. While weather is forecasted (as if you can believe them!) to be nice tomorrow, I'm betting that's still too early for best conditions, although the daffodil fields reportedly are still in bloom. I'm tentatively planning on early next week, pending decent weather.

[LynnP]

I plan to check it out tomorrow but not make a day of it.
I'll let you know how things look tomorrow night. But for the small amount of sunlight we have had for the past two months I doubt if the full bloom will happen until after Easter.

[Russ]

I recall a couple(?) of years ago it was also a late spring and the festival had to be extended from the normal April 1-30th into early May so that they could actually get the blooms in. Of course that late in the year when they come its light longer, gets warmer, and the flowers wilt quicker.

I'll look forward to your report.

[LynnP]

OK, been there , done that, here's the scoop.

I saw only about six daffodil fields were still blooming. A couple were on the road to LaConner from Rt 20. They also have "No Parking" signs along the road that pass by them. I only saw two fields with tulip buds and they were pretty sparse. most of the flowers are east of the road that RozenGarten is located. That road from the gardens south has a couple fields that will be ready in a couple weeks. Talking to people in town the best fields are close to Mt. Vernon on the back roads. There are both fields in bloom now and some that will bloom in a couple weeks.

I also went to Fir Island and saw one (1) Harrier, zero snow geese, zero eagles and lots of muddy fields. The only white birds I saw were sea gulls.

LaConner was tourist free, the "Tiny Burger" at LaConner Tavern is still a delicious more than you can eat meal. The service was great and friendly and best of all the Mack & Jack was cold. So the trip wasn't a complete waste of time.


Lynn

[Russ]

Hmmmm, Mac & Jack.....good beer! Thanks for the scouting report. Looks like next week at the earliest.

[Jphoto]

I'll be there if I can. If you don't go on a weekend though, that pretty much counts me out...I have to work all week =(

[LynnP]

Russ,

Check your PM's. I have sent you two. Received yours today and it reflected that you apparently didn't get or read the one I sent 2 days ago. Do you have your notification set properly?


Lynn