Family, visitors miss bulb farm’s founder

Every year around this time, the DeGoede Bulb Farm and Gardens brightens more than 300 acres of land near Mossyrock with tulips and other springtime flowers.

The colorful flowers are back in bloom, but the DeGoede family and yearly visitors have noticed a missing presence.

This spring bloom is the first without bulb farm founder Hank DeGoede, who died last month at age 89.

“Everybody misses him,” said Hank’s oldest son, Jack DeGoede. “Not just his family. We get comments from visitors that say, ‘We miss your father.’ ”

“This will be the most dramatic year,” Jack added.

Hank immigrated to Mount Vernon from Holland in 1947 as a third-generation bulb farmer. He relocated his tulip fields to Mossyrock in 1977.

Although Hank stepped away from the business in 1995, Jack said that up to last year Hank would spend time in the retail center meeting and talking with visitors.

Retail Manager Gayle Cote said Hank was always happy to greet people.

“He was always gracious and showed everyone around,” Cote said.

This weekend marks the beginning of the peak bloom season. April until mid-October, Jack said, provides the most colorful viewing of the fields while driving along U.S. Highway 12.

The highway runs almost directly between the farm and gardens, providing passers-by a panoramic view of the colorful sight.

The flowering tulips will last another two to three weeks, which Jack said will run into Mother’s Day this year.

Once the tulips stop growing, the fields will be full of astilbes, phlox and dahlias.

Jack said this season came two weeks later than usual; warm weather last weekend accelerated the blooming to record levels.

Driving and walking through the field is free and open to the public.

Cote said people can even visit the chapel that Hank built on the bulb farm.

Hank, a devout Catholic, helped build the chapel and a large cross on the hill overlooking the fields.

“He prided himself in his Catholic faith and helping people in a positive way,” Jack said.

Each year the bulb farm attracts people as far away as Yakima, Seattle and Portland, Jack said.

“People make day drives out of it,” Jack said. “We don’t have the crowds like (the cities).”