Friday, May 06, 2011

Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival

Isn't this the most delightful spot for a picnic?

Down in the Salt Lake City valley, 3 thousand feet lower in elevation ~ and a full month ahead of the chilly scene in my own mountain garden ~ is a beautiful spot called Thanksgiving Point.


Filled with acres and acres of happy spring tulips.

Warm sunlight tap dances across their pretty petals. Snapping this grumpy gardener out of the deep, blue funk that always accompanies an icy cold spring.


The valley (as we call Salt Lake City) is a blessing in springtime. When absolutely nothing is happening in my own garden, a quick trip to the lower elevations provides sweet inspiration.


Oh, I know what you're thinking... you feel sorry for me for living way up there in that snowdrift, don't you?

It's not so bad. Spring arrives a bit later. And, yes, that's maddening for a gardener. But, in another month, those proverbial tables will turn. My smug valley girl friends will be roasting in 100-degree heat and they'll be visiting me for a much-needed break.

* Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival: If you're heading to the festival, giddyup. We stubbornly waited for the first picture-perfect spring day but we were surprised to see that many of the tulips were already past their prime...

Hot Tip for Locals:
Tulip bulbs are perennials but they don't care. Thanksgiving Point digs up approximately 250,000 Tulip bulbs, every year, and sells the bulbs to flower lovers like you and me for a dollar a dozen. 

Oh, you did NOT seriously think I was going to tell you when they go on sale, did you? No, no... smaller crowds = more for me!

19 comments:

The Hag said...

I drive right by there on my way to Flagstaff all the time, but I've never stopped to look at the gardens -- maybe this next trip I will do that!

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Let us know when you're passing through and we'll all go together! :)

Lona said...

That is a great idea Kate. You can just come down from the mountain if you really need a flower fix until your start blooming.
The tulips along the stream and the waterfalls are so beautiful. What a great waterfall.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Hi, Lona;
Well, it doesn't fulfill the deep desire to be digging in the mud :)) but it is a joy to see the tulips and trees in full flower.

A Garden of Threads said...

I would love living in the mountains. The tulips along the waterfall is stunning. Have a great weekend.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

What luscious tulips. All that color might hurt your eyes after coming down from that mountain. What a beautiful sight.

sweetbay said...

So many beautiful tulips! Glad that you got a respite from winter's lingering grip for a day.

Laurrie said...

I envy you your mountain location, even though spring is late for you. What a place to live!

Marguerite said...

That fountain at the end is really something. I've never seen anything quite like it. Beautiful

Shady Gardener said...

What a beautiful place! You have inspired some interest!! :-)

Wendy said...

wow, that last photo is amazing! so much work to plant, dig, replant all those bulbs.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful time of year for them. Thanks for taking us along.

Janie said...

This looks like a lovely place to visit in spring.
But I do love the higher elevations in summer. That's the great thing about Utah. We can follow the spring from March until July.

Diana said...

I love tulips! Kate, you've got a great idea!!!

Snowcatcher said...

Oh, my, what a treasure it would be to hit The Point at just the right time and come home with a bunch of tulip bulbs...

So now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed my cousin's wedding will be the right time of year...

And I've been meaning to ask you for a week or so: Do blueberries need bees to pollinate? I had to bring mine indoors due to snow, and now all the blossoms are falling off. :(

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful garden photos, what a lovely place to visit. Your photos and the flowers are gorgeous!

Rhonda Gales said...

Beautiful photos. I love Utah. I visit Ogden regularly for business. How far are you from Ogden? I would love to visit the Tulip Festival next year.

A Diva's Garden
http://adivasgarden.blogspot.com

nunta formatii said...

Wow what can we say when we see these pictures? The Tulips are my favourits flowers, great photos.

Parchet Baie said...

These pictures are so beautiful that they seem unreal. I haven`t seen in my life a more impressive flowers.