This time last year was a different story for our Skagit County tulip farms and gardens. The pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus prevented in person visits to these beautiful flowers, so often a very popular tourist destination. The impact was immediate. There would not be the month long infiltration of tourists visiting the Skagit Valley – the annual economic shot in the arm upon which the region depends.

Due to worldwide mandates and restrictions in 2020, activities like visiting farms were taken off our “things to do” list. However, I was anxious to know how places like Tulip Town would survive this unexpected shut down. I was able to interview Andrew Miller, one of Tulip Town’s owners, by phone a year ago. He said then they had to get very creative by delivering countless bouquets in person, locally and out of the county.

Fast forward to the same time, this year, and our county is in Gov. Jay Inslee’s Roadmap to Recovery Phase 3, allowing us to once again visit places like Tulip Town (in limited capacity). Tulip Town once again offered their free special event called “Locals Night” that took place from 5:30-8:00 pm. This was a welcome chance to watch the sun go down in person with the revered multicolored and varied tulips.

Spinach Bus Ventures, Tulip Town’s owners, have expanded with the purchases of Skagit Acres and Fairhaven Mill and developing Skagit Landing Restaurant & Catering at the Burlington airport. They were in the barn selling last Wednesday.

Recently vaccinated with the Moderna shots, I masked up, grabbed my cameras and headed out to Tulip Town to join my fellow photojournalist friend, Annabelle Vergne. We met at the entrance, where we had to show proof of our local addresses. Once we entered the fields, we were pretty thrilled and awed by the glorious tulips that were bobbing their heads in the light breeze, dancing in the last rays of full sunshine. We managed to take plenty of photographs, as were the many other locals we saw scattered around the fields and displays.

Little Lilly Leonhardt and her mother Erin spotted me and I asked to take their picture. Masks and social distancing were required but some unmasked briefly for photos to share the countless smiles that being together in such a beautiful setting brought to all of us. Special local celebrities showed up as well, like Brit Reese and his parrot Scarlet.

Miller said it was a way to thank neighbors and “welcome back spring and local friends.”

If you want to visit Tulip Town you have to purchase a ticket or pass online. You cannot show up without one.

Watch live-streamed “field check ins” with Miller on the Tulip Town Facebook page: facebook.com/tuliptown.

To find out more about Tulip Town: tuliptown.com.