Posted by Toni Lankerd on March 28, 2009 at 3:39 PM
This is just a small portion of Veldheer's Tulip farm in Holland, MI. They have over 5 million Tulips, 50,000 daffodils, 10,000 hyacinths and 20,000 crocus. I've never seen the Crocuses, but then again, I usually wait until the week before the Tulip Festival to go, and by that time, the early bloomers are gone. Although the festival is normally held the first of May...this year it is May 2-9. I prefer the week before for photography because the crush of tourists start coming in a day or two before the actual start date. Considering that over 300,000+ people will descend on Holland (a city of about 35,000), you can see why it's best go early...providing the Tulips are blooming. This year's bulb plants at Veldheer's are on time with a few Tulips breaking ground now.
I know this image is not the best...I've not had very good luck with long shots here ...but wanted to give people a rough idea of what this Tulip farm looks like. If anyone is interested in meeting up for a shoot here, let me know.
Hope we are in the fields planting here by then, but looks like a great place to spend a day with or without a camera. Yea with that many people there for festival I'd want to go early too.
Posted by Wendy Jackson on March 29, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Toni, I'd be interested in meeting up to shoot tulips. I live about an hour south of Holland and so it is an easy drive. However, I'm a bit of a beginner when it comes to photography and you may not want me tagging along.
Posted by Toni Lankerd on March 29, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Wendy....one other forum member has mentioned possibly going the weekend before the festival, and another want to make it midweek of the following week. You are more than welcome to join us!
Cindy...there are dirt/grass paths between the rows. You certainly would not be the first to use a walker or wheelchair at Veldheer's. Windmill Island might be a little easier for you though because they have sidewalks, although not as many Tulips. Still..it's a pretty place with plenty of photo ops. Some birds hang out in both places, by the way..although nothing exotic. There are Bison next to the Tulip farm, however!
Posted by Wendy Jackson on March 29, 2009 at 6:16 PM
Toni, I can make most days except Saturday. I'll watch the forums for see what the final decision is.
Posted by Kirk Greene on March 29, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Reminds me of some of the tulip farms I visited in Oregon & Washington when I lived in WA. They sure can be fun to photograph with all of the creative options available with such a palette of vibrant color. I didn't know there was one in MI..I'll have to make note of that for future. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by Chuck Beatty on March 31, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Looks like lots of opportunities for images here, Toni. I wondered why they had such a massive fence in the BG. Then you mentioned the bison ...
Posted by Toni Lankerd on April 1, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Chuck...the Tulips are more cooperative then the Bison.
Toni, assuming that you--and possibly others MWNP members--make it to the farm this spring, I hope you'll post some images here so the rest of us can see what we're missing.
Posted by Toni Lankerd on April 2, 2009 at 4:53 PM
Will do, Kerry...especially now that I got my camera back!
Discussion
12 repliesI know this image is not the best...I've not had very good luck with long shots here
Cindy...there are dirt/grass paths between the rows. You certainly would not be the first to use a walker or wheelchair at Veldheer's. Windmill Island might be a little easier for you though because they have sidewalks, although not as many Tulips. Still..it's a pretty place with plenty of photo ops. Some birds hang out in both places, by the way..although nothing exotic. There are Bison next to the Tulip farm, however!
In any case, thanks for telling us about this place, Toni.
Kerry...That would be great!