Skagit Valley is an area about 90 miles north of Seattle and the same distance south of Vancouver. As we all know Holland in Europe is home to Tulips. Tulip were brought to Skagit Valley by one Mary Brown Stewart. She started growing Tulip bulbs, in 1906. In 1926 her son Sam Stewart started the Tulip Grange Bulb Farm near LaConner. The farm was in business until 2002. Other bulb growers joined them after 1945. By 1997, 700 acres were used for bulb farming with a value of $42 million.
Tulips are in bloom only for a short period, in April. It attracts millions of tourist every year.
Tulips were introduced in Europe in the 16th century from Ottoman Empire. Its popularity in the Netherlands was boosted by competition between members of the upper classes for possession of the rarest tulips. In 1623, a single bulb of a famous tulip variety could cost as much as a thousand Dutch florins (the average yearly income at the time was 150 florins). Tulips were also exchanged for land, valuable livestock, and houses. Allegedly, a good trader could earn six thousand florins a month.
On last Sunday (15 Apr 07) we visited the Tulip Festival. It was just awesome. Like everyone else, we went crazy with our cameras. The pictures posted here are out of more than 300 pictures taken by us. Needless to say, it was very difficult to reject the others! Enjoy the nature’s bounty.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
