I awoke at 5:30am to take sunrise pictures, but I was almost too late! As I was driving to the ocean I espied this barn and diverted, partly because of the dandelions and mostly because I could see I was late to make it to the shore in time…not that I’m complaining!
I have updated the cost of the cards and locations where you can purchase them!
Skagit Valley Greening Cards for Sale!
The 10 images below are now printed on 5.5″ x 8″ thick linen finish paper. They have a luxurious feel to them and the colors are magnificent. One side is the image an the other side has the name and location of the image. They can be send as post cards, but come individually sealed in a plastic sleeve with an envelope.
Price is $3.50 each; a bundle of one of each (10 cards) for $25.
Wholesale pricing available!
The shipping cost varies based on the number of cards you’d like, email me for prices
AndyPorterPhotography@gmail.com
Send in your payments (checks or money orders only, please!) to:
Andy Porter
440 Nelson Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
The cards will ship out within 24 hours of your order being received.
Here is a list of locations where you can purchase the cards:
In Mount Vernon
• Skagit Valley Hospital Main Pharmacy, in the Skagit Regional Clinic Building
• Skagit Valley Hospital at their new River Bend Facility Pharmacy
In Sedro-Woolley
• Simply Silver and More located on Metcalf Street in Downtown Sedro Woolley
• Hoagland Pharmacy on Highway 20
• Sedro Woolley Auto Licensing and Chamber of Commerce office on Metcalf Street
In La Conner
Caffe Jubilee on First Street
Skagit Valley Tulips
Sahale Glacier Camp, North Cascades National Park
Sedro-Woolley Carnival
Orange Sky, Pink Tulips @ Skagit Valley
Mount Baker
Sahale Arm Trail, North Cascades National Park
Light and Tulips
Point of the Arches, Olympic National Park
Indian Creek Waterfall, North Cascades National Park
Arches National Park
These images were taken at sunrise, on March 13th, 2014!
Skagit Valley is famous for tulips in the spring. And daffodils! Each year the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival harkens the arrival of spring to the Pacific Northwest.
There are hundreds of acres of tulips and daffodils. If you want to visit, here is a link to the Bloom Map.
Daffodils bloom first, there three large fields alight now, with more to come. The arrival of the tulips generally happens in the first week of April, but it always depends on how many sunny days we get!
March has arrived and it’s not too long now (hopefully!) until it gets a little warmer and the flowers start to arrive.
Rows of Reds, Reflected
This months issue of NW Travel Mag with one of my images on the cover!
I live in Skagit County, named after the Skagit Indians and Skagit River) in the NW corner of Washington State. And among its other striking features such as the North Cascades and Puget Sound we have the Tulip Festival every April. 
Yellows at sunset
I understand that outside of Holland there are more tulips grown here than anywhere. The valley floor has a wide expanse of fertile, flat farmland and near the towns of Mount Vernon and La Conner there are fields and fields of bright tulips. 
Infinite Pinks
Each year the bloom times change, but generally its mid April when they are at their height of color.
This is a web site that has a link for a map showing exactly where the fields are and when they are abloom.
Rows and people
Every Saturday and Sunday the roads are crammed with cars forming long lines. This is not a good time to come! If you do come on the weekend make sure to arrive for either sunrise or sunset. I am often out for the sunrise and the fields are bright a crisp, a few workers and photographers are there, and that’s about it.
Weekdays are the best, plan to arrive about 5 or 6. The tulipy stores are closed and the manicured gardens. But the huge expansive fields are alive with the hue of low light and alive with vibrance!
Yellowy mud!
Make sure to dress for mud, and bring your tripod and polarizer!
Reds and a dramatic sky
If you decide to make the trip for a sunrise or sunset and want a tour guide, make sure to let me know! I am always happy to have company!
My three favorite places to experience wildflower explosions are:
1. The Pasayten Wilderness. Here you’ll hike through acres of nothing but wildflowers, as far as you can see. And I don’t mean clumps of flowers here and there, but solid unending hillsides and ridgetops. 
2. Goat Rocks Wilderness. The south side of the Goat Rocks, along the PCT near Snowgrass Flats has some of the brightest, most colorful, died and gone to flower heaven displays. 
3. Sahale Arm, North Cascades National Park. Here the backdrop for the flowers is absolutely magnificent, the jagged peaks surrounding Cascade Pass juxtaposing with the flowers for a truly breathtaking effect. 
Reflections can add greatly to any photograph. There is something striking about reflections, they add depth, color, scale, texture and sort of pull you into the image.
Mount Shuksan
Cypress Island
One item you’ll need to capture reflections is a polarizer. Try to position yourself at a 45 degree to the light for best results and as you rotate the polarizer you’ll see the reflection pop out. Be prepared to get low, maybe on your belly to get the shot!
Pond along Reiter Road
Boats along Samish Bay
I am always on the hunt for any size body of water.
Balloon reflected in a artificial “pond”
Sunset Through an Open Window
Small puddles work great!
Liberty Bell from Washington Pass Overlook along the North Cascades Highway
The water does not have to be clear!
Tulips Reflected
Mud Puddle Reflection
Even wet surfaces can create wonderful reflections.
Reflections in Sand
Everytime you see any standing water, try for a reflection!
Amphitheater Mountain Reflected, Pasayten Wilderness
Squalicum Bay
Sunset and Muddy Water
I am blessed, being so close to the Skagit Valley tulip fields (not to mention the North Cascades and a whole host of other marvelous places…)
I am reviewing more than 40 photo shoots from this year, eight of which were visits to the flower fields. Here is a sampling of this years best images. 
The Goat Rocks Wilderness is located in South-Central Washington along the spine of the Cascades Mountains. The Goat Rocks are the remains of a volcano, their jagged peaks jutting above the forest. With Mount Adams to the south and Mount Rainier to the north, the views are always awesome!
July brings snow melt and wildflowers. The wilderness is easy to access, camp sites abound and no permits are needed! Here are a few pictures!
Sauk Mountain rises more than 5,000 feet about the lower reaches of Skagit Valley. It’s nearness to the North Cascades Highway makes it a popular day hike. All of the times I’ve been there before its been partly couldy at best but I saw enough to know that it would afford great views at sunset. So, on Thursday I made my way up and captured these images of the sweet light over the Skagit River and valley…
The Pasayten Wilderness is located in Washington State along the Canadian Border. Stretching east from Ross Lake the mountains here are drier than the North Cascades National Park, on the other side of the lake. Long ridges, endless meadows filled with wildflowers and solitude is what you’ll find here in the Pasayten.
Here are a few images from an earlier trip…cant wait until July when I’ll be headed back out there on another long trek…
Pasayten Wilderness Wildflowers on the Pacific Crest Trail
Jack Mountain and wildflowers from Devils Dome
Pasayten Wilderness Wildflowers on the PCT
Pasayten Wilderness Wildflowers
Pasayten Wilderness Wildflowers
Em and Jack Mountain
Joker Mountain from the Three Fools Trail
Ross Lake from the Lightning Creek Trail
North Western Images - photos by Andy Porter 