Monday, April 28, 2008

tulips of the valley...

I'm an event co-ordinator of sorts...planning outings for a group of mid-life adults at our church. These events are strictly social in nature...and the purpose is simply to connect with and get to know others in an informal setting. We've gone to ball games in the city, visited parks and museums, gone out for dinner, gone on a hike...and the list goes on. Yesterday's event was a 'dazzle your senses' tour of the farming area of Agassiz...done in large vans with a group close to 50 people!

First stop...Tulips of the Valley, 35-acre tulip farm. We are free to stroll the fields...open to the public for two-weeks for self-guided tours.


After we've had a chance to check out all the tulip varieties...buy tulips or order bulbs...and take a few photos...it's off to The Back Porch.


Here we check out the circa 1919 coffee roaster...soak up the wonderful aroma or sample their coffees...and visit the pottery studio.

The barn houses an interesting collection of antiques, collectibles and garden decor items.


Next stop...The Farm House Natural Cheeses...where one can watch the cheesemaking process through a viewing window (but not on Sunday), or sample a wide range of handmade artisan cheeses...or gelati ice-cream!


I haven't tried their ice-cream but the jalapeno gouda is wonderful!

And a little further down the road, we stop off at Limbert Mountain Farm...specializing in potted herbs and organic specialties.


We visit their tea shoppe...which is also home to cooking classes by famed instructor, Chez Dez. We are free to sample all kinds of strange and wonderful goodies...including lavender chocolate!

The tour is never over until we've had a serious bite to eat...so our last stop is the Wildcat Grill for dinner. Not only did we enjoy a fabulous meal...but we topped it off with birthday treats compliments of Gord (he really knows how to plan a birthday party!)

And that, folks, was our event for April...and who knows where we'll go next?

10 comments:

  1. Wow! What a marvelous day everyone enjoyed and all because you coordinated it? That's a wonderful gift!

    So enjoyed seeing the fields of tulips and all the little shops. Thank you for the wonderful photos!

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  2. What a wonderful tour and way to spend the day. The pictures you shared are fantastic. Thanks for letting me tag along.

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  3. Bingo! It's lavender scented drawer liner paper. I love that stuff and get it at my local T.J. Maxx for a discount price. Hope that it wasn't too overwhelming. ;)

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  4. Wow is right. Hey .. .since you are an event organizer of sorts, I say . .plan. . .take us too. Wouldn't that be great?
    The pictures are wonderful and I'm so intrigued at the cheese place. I haven't been there either.
    Thanks for the virtual tour.

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  5. Looks as though I'll need to move back to BC so I can get to know all those places that weren't there back when! I'll let you know in plenty of time so you can be my tour guide!

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  6. I'm with the rest, we'd like to tag along on your tours, Judy!
    I went to see a cheese factory in Switzerland many years ago and I was fascinated and to this day I remember the smell in there! I think it's because I grew up on a dairy farm..it smells very strongly of fresh milk and cow! LOL

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  7. Thanks for the amazing tour! I feel like I got to go along with you!! B.C. really is beautiful. Those flowers...breathtaking!

    Linda
    xoxo

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  8. Judy, Judy, Judy....what a blessing you are! This is just 'what the doctor ordered'.... this is my favorite area to go...well...truth be told I have not been to any of these places before but I love Harrison Mills area so I am thinking ... I am going to take my good friend (who I have put off seeing far far too long with all this work load) and take her on a tour on Friday. Did you really do all this in one day? My goodness. I love it! You are terrific. What a great thing to do. I am going to email you and ask some directions...like what is that place called the 'back porch'? Take care. You definitely brightened my day and gave me 'light at the end of the tunnel' with purpose this week. Thanks

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  9. Judy, now that was the most fantastic tour I've taken lately...first I get a beach tour at Beachkats place and now this. The tulips are wonderful and the pictures are appreciated. Lovely work by the way!
    Sandi

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  10. That looks like it was so much fun! The tulips are breathtaking! So vibrant! Thank you so much for including us in your tour!

    Jan

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'The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it.'
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson