Spring is Sprung...

 

Tulips of the Valley Festival

Monday April 7, 2015. 

 

If rainbows could come to earth, this is what it would look like, the rows of vibrant color stretching as far as the eye can see toward the misty blue Cheam Mountains.

 

I had heard about the Tulip Festival out near Agassiz but had never made the effort to take it in.  Monday was a nice spring day, sunnier than forecasted and a good day for a day trip.

 

Heading out from Port Moody its only about an hour and half, I decided to avoid the Freeway and elected instead to take the Lougheed Highway following along the River as much as possible. Skirting around Maple Ridge and Haney its like going for a drive in the countryside.

 

It is Easter Monday and only about 11:00 am and the crowds are starting to build, the line-ups getting longer as we wait for the shuttle to take us from the parking area to the fields. We are told, as we wait, the yesterday (Easter Sunday) was extremely busy with over 3000 visitors. It looks like today will be another busy day.

 

The farm is an actual working tulip farm operated by Onos Greenhouses Ltd, growing bulbs for their greenhouses which sell cut flowers throughout Canada and USA. It is located on First Nations land on Seabird Island, near Agassiz and Harrison. For ten years now (since 2006) they have been opening their fields helping visitors embrace and welcome this first promise of spring.

 

Its a real farm, with tractors and dirt and fresh air, fascinating children whose city existence does not include such things on a regular basis.

 

And everywhere visitors are madly clicking their cameras, trying to capture the colors - hefty, semi-professional DSLR Canons and Nikons, handy little point and shoots, and, of course, everywhere iphones and camera phones, some with the trendy new selfie sticks. It is impossible to savour and enjoy this magnificent vista without needing to capture it, remember it, and share it.

 

 

 

Rainbows of color against the misty blue Cheam Mountains.

     

                                                    

                                                                                                                          

 

The Tulip Festival takes place each year in early April. It is over now for 2015, but put it on your calendar for next year.

 

        For more information go to tulipsofthevalley.com

   Location:  Seabird Island near Agassiz, BC.
   1 1/2 hours from Vancouver or 45 minutes from Abbotsford

Cost:   Parking : $10 Admission $5. each ($3 on weekdays)