Spring is here! That means it’s time to dust off your camera equipment (figuratively speaking, I know you always keep your equipment clean, right?) and find some flowers to photograph. If you have a garden you don’t have far to go. Many parks have lovely flowers. You’ll find beautiful flowers to photograph on hikes and scenic drives.
In some areas there are festivals to celebrate spring and beautiful flowers. Here are some I’ve been to, or want to go to. Feel free to comment with information and/or links to others you know of. Some of these also offer photography workshops and/or contests.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Mount Vernon, Washington. We haven’t been to this one yet, but we’re hoping to get up to see the fields in the next week or so. It runs the whole month of April. The website has bloom updates, a calendar of special events, and more.
I love lilacs! There are so many different varieties!
Lilac Days, Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens, Woodland, Washington. Lilacs are my all time favorite flower. I had no idea there were so many different varieties of lilacs until I visited Lilac Days last year. I was in heaven! Dates vary each year, but are generally mid-April to mid-May. Check the website for details.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, Woodburn, Oregon. This is the closest one to where we live and we visited twice last year. It also runs through the month of April. Visit their website for info on hours, cost, their photography contest, special events, and more.
Bright sunshine gives tulips a transparent quality, but the tulip festivals can be fun in the rain too!
Fresno County Blossom Trail, Fresno County, California. This festival, celebrating the beauty of spring blooms in central California fruit/nut orchards, begins in February and runs into March. We have yet to visit but it’s on my wishlist. Maps and bloom information are available on the website.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, Carlsbad, California. We drove past the Flower Fields in February one year. The flowers had begun to bloom, but the ranch wasn’t open for visitors yet. They grow a wide variety of flowers and host special events throughout the spring season (generally mid March to early May).
We’re always exploring and looking for photo opportunities. I’m sure there are many other parks, gardens and farms where you can photograph beautiful flowers. Please share your favorites!
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