Skagit Valley bulb fields

[Steve Willson]

It is daffodil season presently on the Skagit flats - about 8 miles south of where I live.  The Skagit Valley is a major commercial bulb growing area for daffodils and tulips; 500 acres account for 75% of US production.  These are photos taken yesterday, as the daffodils are in full bloom.  Tulip season will start in later-April.  (Contrary to what I understand to be common practice in The Netherlands, bulb growers here let the daffodils and tulips bloom right to the end of their blooming season before deheading.)

During the winter, the Skagit Valley is also home to many thousands of migrating Snow Geese and Trumpeter and Tundra Swans that overwinter here.  These are some of the last big flocks of Snow Geese remaining; they will all depart very soon for their long migration north to their summer breeding grounds on Russia's Wrangel Island.

[Luminita]

Oddly enough Steve, no one is checking passports when these geese are flying to Ostrov Vrangelya - Wrangell Island. There is a small, seasonal population on the Island made up of Chukchi and Yupik people and local rangers.The island is 30 miles long and 5-14 miles wide, roughly the same size as Crete. These geese have been migrating for thousands of years, maybe soon we will see changes due to political situations. Thank you for the pictures on the WA side