The early, mild spring weather brought early blooms to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival which officially begins April 1.

Many fields, including the main venues of RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town, opened early for the season as daffodils and tulips began to pop up.

Fortunately, the early-late blooming tulip varieties will extend the displays for weeks. The events will continue on schedule.

The famous Tulip Festival is just a short drive away for Whidbey Island residents. The multi-acre tulip fields border Highway 20 and the Skagit River near Mount Vernon.

At RoozenGaarde, the three-acre display garden is planted with over 200,000 spring-flowering bulbs. Tulip Town is just as it sounds; a “town” with vendors, an indoor mural and a 15-acre tulip field. The venue also offers trolley rides through the fields, kite shows and a new garden honoring the World Tulip Summit, which will be held in Skagit Valley.

Both gardens offer easy walks, but as Jennifer Gore of Seattle would recommend, definitely dress for the mud.

“She loves it,” Gore said of her daughter’s reaction to the flowers. “But I think she’s more interested in the puddles.”

The area offers several wineries, museums, restaurants and bed and breakfasts.

The festival continues through the month of April. For more information visit www.tulipfestival.org.