Tulips Blooming once again in Downtown Mount Vernon
By: Cindy Verge

Tulip fans delight in new smokestack design by Esther McLatchy

New Tulip bouquet takes shape in downtown Mount Vernon

Thanks to a whole bunch of people, tulips are once again blooming on the smokestack in downtown Mount Vernon.

Tulip fans from throughout the Pacific Northwest had commented on how tired the smokestack tulips had become. About two years ago the building owners embarked on a renovation project for the smokestack, eventually “topping” the tulips to eliminate the part of the smokestack that had become unsound. The owners graciously allowed a group of tulip fans to put a new bouquet of flowers on the stack.

Working with the Mayor’s office, artist Esther McLatchy designed a scale model of the smokestack featuring five tulips in bright, bold colors. Esther hand-picked all the colors on the smokestack, working Dale Ragan of Karls Paints (who donated the paint for the project). The 20-member Tulip Festival board viewed and approved the smokestack design, as did the building owners.

Then the real work began. Local painter Jose Cardona, owner and operator of Cardona & Sons Painting, volunteered his time and expertise to transfer Esther’s design to the smokestack. Jose tackled the project Labor Day weekend, coordinating with the Mayor’s office to get a Birch Equipment lift and to help with supplies over the holiday weekend. Festival volunteer Mike King also pitched in, chronicling the process through picture.

The timing on the project is perfect – the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival will celebrate 25 years this April – the smokestack is a great way to welcome visitors from around the world to our area. For more photos of the “work in process,” visit our photo gallery.