The first sign of spring for us in California is usually peach or plum blossoms. But sometimes you can catch wild daffodils growing alongside the highway too. And the one I look out for most of all is pretty and colorful tulips growing from the garden. They don’t look like normal flowers since they remind me more of Easter eggs in different colors.

Photo from The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Information.

And when I think of tulips, I always think of the Netherlands. Or the fact that tulips at one time in history was very valuable and caused a “tulip mania”. Or more of a speculative bubble, like that of the dot come years. But that is a whole other topic.

But if you don’t happen to live in the Netherlands, you’ll be happy to know that there are several tulip festivals being held throughout the United States. They usually take place in cities with a Dutch heritage. These blooming tulips are a grand announcement to the arrival of spring. The largest celebration in the U.S. is Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan. The festival is held from May 2 - 9th. I think their website could use more tulip photos, it seem to be missing something.

This nice photo of some beautiful red and white striped tulips (above) were taken by jodimichelle via flickr. These tulips were grown along the city streets of Holland, Michigan. Imagine waking up every spring morning to some of these beauties.

But if you live closer to the western United States like myself, there is a nice tulip festival in the Skagit Valley. This Tulip Festival is held every April 1 - 30th. They have a better website here, full of interesting info and photos. The Skagit Valley is 60 miles north of Seattle, Washington and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. This is the one I would love to visit sometime in the future. It must be amazing to see endless field of tulips. So now you know, you don’t have to go all the way to the Netherlands to enjoy the tulips.

Other cities that hold tulip festivals range from Albany, New York to Pella, Iowa. Even Ottawa, Canada have their own festival. But if you can’t get to them, just grow your own tulip garden. Here’s an interesting looking yellow with peach tips tulip variety from White Flower Farm. They recommend that you “Plant Tulip flower bulbs in the fall and they will reward you with a supply of fresh flowers close at hand in your own spring garden. We particularly recommend a series of Darwin Hybrid Tulips that can provide up to five years of blooms.” I may be too late in the game, but there is always next autumn.

Tulip Farm from chan on Vimeo.

This is an annual Tulip Festival in Melbourne, Australia. Video by G. Chan.

Image source:

jodimichelle via flickr

White Flower Farm