If you’re not much into flowers, this probably isn’t the post for you… I made my first trip into the US for work, heading down to Bellevue for the day. As it’s that time of year, I took my time coming back and stopped in some of the Tulip Festival sites that run each spring. And while spring has been significantly delayed this year, the blossoms around the city have been amazing.

Looking across the water to Granville Island and the cherry blossoms.

They planted these tulips in one of the public gardens between our place and Granville Island. They are just spectacular.

First Trip into the US

I needed to take a day trip down into Bellevue for a meeting with a partner for work. It ended up being a pretty nice day, and because it was the right time of the year I decided to take a slower route back and check out some of the sights of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. This part of northwestern Washington has a ton of flower fields and is spectacular in the spring. It seemed a pleasant way to spend the day and break up the drive home.

Map view of the route I took back through Skagit County. Just from where I got off the highway.

As you’ll see, I love the random flower of another colour in the middle.

It’s a bit hard to describe the volume of flowers. And strangely, most of them are past the point of being viable to sell at a flower shop. Justine’s theory, which I like, is that they must be focused on selling bulbs. It’s really the only thing that makes sense.

I think the purple ones were my favourite. Mackenzie is obviously influencing me…

As I headed back north, I swung out west towards the ocean. The drive was nice - no traffic, and it wound through all the flower fields and farm land. At one point I saw a flock of snow geese - probably the last we’ll see until them come back in the fall.

My last stop was in Bellingham, for an early dinner. Aslan Brewery has been one of our favourites over the years, and it was nice to stopp in for their amazing ginger ale.

Vancouver Blossoms - Last Ones, I Promise

Spring this year has been… well horrible… is the only word I can use to describe it. It’s been cold and wet, and it feels like proper spring and summer are never going to arrive. As a result, the blossoms and flowers have been late in coming. While late, it has been amazing nonetheless. There won’t be much else to say, but hopefully the flowers add some colour, and that spring is nicer where you are.