Northern California Spring

Here in Humboldt County, our foggy coastal climate nurtures something truly extraordinary - groves of towering redwood trees, often thousands of years old. The tallest tree in the world grows just a few miles up the highway from our farm in Arcata. The redwood trees are famous, but the same forests shelter a lesser-known but still celebrated plant. 

The rhododendron is a rather unassuming shrub for most of the year, but when it blooms each year the whole understory bursts into color. In a climate where the fruit trees have been known to try to start blooming in December, this is the flower that signals the beginning of spring.  To celebrate, every April local schools, clubs and businesses cover floats with rhododendrons and other flowers and parade through the streets of downtown Eureka, just across the bay.

The tradition goes back decades. Here's Sun Valley's float from 1988:

The Rhody Parade will be on April 25 this year, so if you happen to be in the Eureka area come on by and join in the celebration! If not, you can celebrate spring color, our unique climate and ancient forests in your own home, with Redwood Grove French Tulips.

Happy Spring!