If you’ve lived in Washington for longer than about five minutes, you’ve almost certainly heard of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which is beautiful and brilliant and amazing to see in person. But did you know that acres of daffodils start to bloom in the exact same area about a month beforehand, in early March? The La Conner Daffodil Festival is smaller, quieter, and more subdued, but it’s equally as visually stunning.

Note: While the daffodils are already beginning to show signs of blooming in Skagit County, current conditions and legal restrictions will prohibit large crowds from gathering in the area this year. Last year’s festival was entirely virtual. And while visitors are permitted in the public gardens like RoozenGaarde, capacity will be limited, and practicing social distancing is a must. We’re simply drawing attention to these beautiful fields of flowers to lift everyone’s spirits and encourage future adventures.

Washington’s Skagit County is not only an agricultural hub, but a paradise for flower lovers.

Mark Pouley / Flickr The Skagit Valley isn’t the only place in Washington with stunning fields of flowers, but it’s certainly the most famous.

Every year, thousands of Washingtonians welcome spring by coming out and taking pictures of this stunning scenery.

Anna Hesser / Flickr As you can see, they have a lot to work with.

Roozengaarde in Mount Vernon is the most popular place for daffodil viewing, and they’ll be allowing a limited number of guests this year. Tulip Town will also have daffodil displays.

Don Denz / Flickr But you can drive around the valley and check out numerous fields of daffodils for free, which is perfectly pandemic-friendly.

Here’s an odd (and perhaps funny?) fact: The proper term for a daffodil’s trumpet or central cone is corona.

Anna / Flickr Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

You’ll see around 450 acres of daffodils in the Skagit Valley, as opposed to the Tulip Festival’s 350 acres.

Steve Ginn / Flickr The of daffodils are left intact through the bloom cycle and beyond, unlike tulips, which are ‘topped’ toward the end of their bloom cycle.

One way to support these local farms and keep them in business for years to come is to order fresh cut flowers from them online, which you can have delivered to you or a friend who needs some positivity and love.

Sheri Wetherell / Flickr There’s really not a more beautiful way to shop local.

Daffodils are seen as a symbol of hope, renewal, and optimism.

Nicholas Blumhardt / Flickr After the year we’ve just had, it’s safe to say we’re excited for them to bloom.

Have you heard of the Daffodil Festival? Whether you’ll be celebrating in person or in spirit, we hope these flowers bring you joy.

Mark Pouley / Flickr

The Skagit Valley isn’t the only place in Washington with stunning fields of flowers, but it’s certainly the most famous.

Anna Hesser / Flickr

As you can see, they have a lot to work with.

Don Denz / Flickr

But you can drive around the valley and check out numerous fields of daffodils for free, which is perfectly pandemic-friendly.

Anna / Flickr

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

Steve Ginn / Flickr

The of daffodils are left intact through the bloom cycle and beyond, unlike tulips, which are ‘topped’ toward the end of their bloom cycle.

Sheri Wetherell / Flickr

There’s really not a more beautiful way to shop local.

Nicholas Blumhardt / Flickr

After the year we’ve just had, it’s safe to say we’re excited for them to bloom.

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Address: La Conner, WA 98257, USA