April 11, 2016

Can there be any question that the most beautiful part of spring are the flowers? As if to affirm the cycle of life and enhance the natural beauty of our world, multitudes of flowers burst forth from a bland winter landscape in seemingly infinite variety. After one of the wettest Seattle winters on record, I hope I can be forgiven for my, ahem, flowery language.

I was able to photograph flowers in two iconic locations this spring. Two weeks ago I visited the Skagit Valley, 1 1/2 hours north of Seattle, the largest tulip growing area in North America. The following image is the result of an early morning wake-up and some very good fortune.

Last week, I was able to spend three days in the magnificent Columbia Gorge on the Washington - Oregon state line. Even if it weren't a must-see destination for wildflowers, the waterfalls and scenic views in the Gorge are stunning. Put it on your bucket list.

You will find more images of Skagit Valley tulips and Columbia Valley wildflowers at my Flickr website.