If you stumble upon Skagit Valley in April, make sure to visit the Tulip Festival, a world renowned spring destination in Washington State. The most distinguished display is the RoozenGaarde Farm. RoozenGaarde is visited by thousands of people from all over the world every year. Located just 90 minutes from Seattle, this place offers breathtaking scenery of miles and miles of tulips, bulbs and daffodils.
History
William Roozen and his wife Helen, arrived in the United States in 1946. Back in Holland, they left a successful bulb-growing business, with a rich history of 6 generations. Few years later, in 1950, they started their own farm, on 5 acres of land. In 1955 they bought the Washington Bulb Company. Soon the Roozen family became the leading grower of tulip, daffodil, and iris bulbs in North America. Today, the farm operates a public display garden, tulip and daffodil fields, and a gift shop called Roozengaarde. They are part of the Tulip Festival each year. The Festival usually runs throughout the month of April.
Interesting Fact: Each year, the RozenGaarde Farm is replanted and redesigned by hand, with over 1 million bulbs and nearly 200 different tulips and daffodils.
Upon visit of RoozenGaarde
RoozenGaarde is open every day, 9am – 7pm, during the Tulip Festival. Tickets are available online or onsite. Pets and drones are not allowed. Parking is free.
Upon entrance, you will be mesmerised by the Display Garden on the left. There are 4 acres of tulips that represent the main attraction. The garden also features a Dutch Windmill. Fresh tulips are planted every year. However, the favourite is purple muscari that creates a breathtaking site.
Further down, you will be taken to the 25 acres of daffodils and tulips. Rows and rows of beautiful flowers, in every colour you can imagine. The smell is pretty amazing too.
While strolling furthermore, Mount Baker will be waving to you from the background. There is still snow on top of the mountain which is fascinating for this time of the year.
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Enjoy the view, and take a photo or two. People are usually pretty nice about it, and they give you plenty of space for a photo shoot.
Each flower has a history card. The visitors can enjoy the flowers, and also learn the story behind them.
Note: Please be kind to the flowers, and do not walk over them.
After enjoying the fields, head to the shop and take home a small piece of these endless flower fields. The RoozenGaarde Shop is located just before exiting. It displays freshly cut flowers, gifts and souvenirs.
The Tulip Festival itself consists of multiple Family Farm displays, but the RoozenGaarde is the most prominent and definitely the most visited.
Interesting Fact: The festival claims to be Washington’s largest, with over one million visitors!
Free tulip activities:
- Bulb planting seminars (bulbinars)
- View bulb farming machinery from the past and present
- Watch as we design, layout, and plant the display garden
- Garden “practice planting” area
- Demonstrations on wine barrel/container planting
- Scavenger hunt
- Flower bed planting design contest
- Picnic areas
Fee Festival Activities:
- Plant a pot
- U-pick tulip stems – fall colored blooms
Have you ever visited the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival? If so, let us know in the comments below.
3 Responses
Visiting from Maryland, I was amazed at all the colors and variety of tulips seen. The arrangements were beautiful. I had to purchase a few for Mother’s Day.
We are very glad you enjoyed the Tulip Festival! It’s truly a place that takes your breath away. We hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day, and enjoy your flowers.
This year is the first year we missed it since we moved here three years ago! We love the walk and all the Beautiful flowers, last year we even enjoyed it in the rain! You just have to wear your boots I brought my big pansie umbrella which I got a lot of compliments on it!