Each spring, the Pauls family opens the gates to their Chilliwack farm, welcoming visitors into rows of tulips set against the snow-covered slopes of Mount Cheam.
The festival, which reflects both the region’s agricultural roots and the family’s long history working the land, has become a seasonal tradition in the Fraser Valley, drawing families, photographers and tourists to rows of brightly-coloured flowers.
On the day of Megaphone’s visit, Jen Pauls helped visitors choose jars for their flowers and pointed them toward different sections of the field. She guided people through the rows, where they could pick their own flowers freely.
The Pauls family, which has run the festival since 2017, has farmed the land for nearly 80 years. Visitors arrive for the brief burst of colour each spring, but for the Pauls, the work behind the festival stretches across the entire year.
Each year, the Pauls’ meticulously orchestrate the planting of 1.5 million bulbs. This staggering number is achieved through a blend of modern agricultural technology and the steady hands of experienced farmers.
However, the scale is only half the story. The true magic lies in the diversity of tulips. Botanica Farms showcases 59 unique varieties, creating a tapestry of colour and shape. And it's far more complex than simple rows of red and yellow. Their selection is a journey through the world of tulips.
There are peonies-style doubles, with lush, heavy headed blooms that give the fields a soft fullness. The French and parrot varieties have irregular ruffled petals that curl like lace or feathers. And the elegant lily-flowered varieties, more sleek and pointed, cut clean lines through the rows.
According to the Pauls, one of the greatest challenges of flower farming is the bloom window to ensure the fields remain vibrant for as long as possible. The Pauls stagger their bloom times by planting a mix of early-, mid- and late-season tulips, ensuring that whether a visitor arrives in early April or the warmer days of May they are met with the sea of colour.
It’s a must-see, so mark your calendar for next year.
While Botanical Farms has become a global sensation on social media, the essence of the farm remains grounded in the experience of being there. It is the sound of the wind through the petals, the smell of fresh earth, and the flowers themselves nodding in unison as the sun sets over the valley, casting a golden light across the one-and-a-half million tulips.
[It was so much fun. Thanks Jen].
