Tulip Festival, RoozenGaarde

Terry Huffer at Mill Creek, Washington’s YMCA plans the best trips for seniors.  Yesterday we went to the Tulip Festival in Washington’s Skagit Valley.

RoozenGaarde has been on my bucket list for over a decade.  It is a photographer’s dream.

Tulip sea of Muscari and Double Price (pink) and Monsella (yellow/red) tulips

We all picked up a catalog so that we could hopefully identify the tulip wonders we photographed.

Signature windmill

The garden’s signature is a windmill.

Charmeur and White Dream tulips

Fortunately, we went during the week when it is easier to take photos than on the weekends when the crowds are enormous and the traffic is horrendous.

Greenland

The variety of tulips took my breath away.

Muscari and Double Price and Monsella tulips

The blend tulips was exquisite.

Red Impression tulips, Mount Hood daffodils, and Muscari

In the summer, I love to plant a variety of red, white and blue flowers.

Salmon Parrot tulips

My only disappointment was that the gift shop offered a limited selection of unusual tulips to plant in my own garden.

I laughed when a few “guard” birds voiced their displeasure with the invasion of photographers and tourists.

The amazing gardens are planned and planted in the fall.

Early blooms arrive in March.

Peak blooms are in April.

I appreciated the benches throughout the property where I could rest and enjoy the view.

As you can see, RoozenGaarde is a photographer’s dream.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my memories of a lovely, lovely morning.

Synaeda King and Moneymaker tulips