Tulip Festival returns to Richardson Farms

by Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT

As the air warms, the sun shines and the snowfalls turn to rain, spring has sprung. Peeking out of the ground, the first flowers of the season emerge, heralding the arrival of the warm-weather months. Among the early flowers to bloom are the tulips, which pop up and spread their vibrant color through the landscape.

Around the middle of April, the Richardson Farm in Spring Grove, bursts into color as hundreds of thousands of tulips planted on the property bloom and the Festival of Tulips begins.

“This is the third year we have had the Tulip above: This happy family poses in the midst of the tulips after enjoying a day at the Tulip Festival at Richardson Farm in Spring Grove. below: A color block of orange tulips in full bloom at Richardson Adventure Farm. Tulips come in a large variety of color options.

Toe Through The

Festival on the farm,” said George Richardson, one of the farm’s owners. “Each year the display becomes larger as we add additional bulbs.”

George and Wendy Richardson, their son Ryan, and George’s brother, Robert and his wife, Carol, owners of Richardson’s Adventure Farm, are always thinking of new ideas to add additional attractions to the farm, already the home of the largest corn maze in the area, the fall festival, and the cut your own Christmas tree festival.

Robert and Carol thought that a tulip field would be a nice addition to the farm, one that would be enjoyed by visitors, a thought that was embraced by the other owners.

While some tulips are found in many private gardens, there are not many tulip fields in the Midwest with the exception of Holland, Michigan. Located on the other side of Lake Michigan, Holland is well known for its beautiful tulip displays and Festival celebrating its Dutch heritage. But that is a long distance for Illinois locals to travel to enjoy the beauty of the tulips. So, the Richardson family seriously began to consider adding a beautiful display of tulips at their farm in Spring Grove.

Washington state is known for growing lots of tulips both for display and for commercial sales so Robert and Carol took a trip to Washington, where they researched how to grow tulips. The only drawback they saw to the tulip display was that the bulbs needed to be planted in the fall, the busiest time at Richardson’s as the fall festival with its massive corn maze is in full swing.

Despite of the busyness of the season, the decision was made to begin the project. With help from Shawn Stolworthy, owner of MazePlay Inc., who for the past 20 years has designed the area’s largest and most intricate corn maze, the Richardson Corn Maze, work began on designing and creating the tulip display.

“Shawn knew we were going ahead with the tulip project and he had a contact in California who owned a commercial tulip bulb planter,” George Richardson said. “This large complicated machine was built in Holland and had to be driven on a trailer from California by Shawn. We were also fortunate that Shawn was able to find a contact in Holland who was willing to ship the bulbs across the Atlantic and then deliver them by semi-truck.”

Anyone who has spent their fall planting bulbs for spring bloom knows it is a time consuming and back aching job. Using the bulb planter made the job easier but it remains labor intensive.

“Putting the bulbs in requires two full days of work by the maze designer, four employees, and my brother, son, and I working two full days each to plant the display,” George said.

Designing the display

In spite of the work involved the decision to go ahead with the tulip display was accepted by the owners and the first bulbs were planted in November 2020. Prior to planting these first bulbs, decisions about the number of bulbs and the amount of land to be turned into the blooming tulip display had to be made.

The first thought was that 10,000 bulbs would make a beautiful splash of color. But would it be enough? In Richardson fashion, it was decided that it was not enough.

Working with Stolworthy, they decided to plant 300,000 bulbs over five acres –200,000 bulbs would be planted in color blocks with walkways between them, 30,000 blocks in a sunburst design, and another 70,000 bulbs of mixed colors in an adjacent pick your own area.

“Since that time our numbers have increased each year,” Carol said. “We plant additional bulbs yearly, many of our original bulbs continue to flower and many have produced new offshoots, increasing their numbers. This year we should have approximately 1 million blooms.”

While 1 million is a massive display, they will not all be in bloom at the same time. There are a variety of early and late bloomers which will spread the blooms out throughout the blooming season.

The Richardsons explained that the opening date is always in question as it is dependent on Mother Nature. When she provides enough rain, sun, and warm spring weather, the tulips will respond and grow. This is usually around mid-April and the blooming will continue through early May.

“The blooming season usually lasts about three to four weeks, so there is ample time to visit the tulips and enjoy them in full bloom,” George said.

The 5 acres of blooms are on a hay field and along a private 36-acre lake located on the Richardson Farm. Visitor can enjoy the beauty of the tulips and meander over to the lakefront to partake in other activities. Along the waterfront are a number of picnic tables for guests to picnic.

Eat, drink and be merry

Food can be purchased from the food trucks parked near the shore. Weekdays one of these food trucks will be onsite – MJ’S, or Pixie Dawgs. In addition, the Richardson Trolley provides beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks for sale. The trolley sells the homemade treats found at Richardson’s during festivals, including donuts, popcorn and kettle corn all made onsite. Fudge is available at the gift shop, which can be found about a half-mile walk from Tulip Fields. (or drive up from the parking lot).

The gift shop, in addition to the homemade treats, carries a variety of gifts, including new spring and garden merchandise. Wine tasting from Prairie State Winery will also be available in the gift shop.

On weekends, additional food trucks may be onsite, including Fork N Fire, or Your Sister’s Tomato Pizza. On weekend afternoons from noon to 3 p.m. live music is performed along the waterfront by a variety of local musicians.

Along the lakefront there are a variety of games for family fun, available without charge. Challenge family members to a game of corn hole. Or enjoy the giant versions of Jengo, Connect Four, checkers and Ring the Bull.

Accessiblity

Safety and wheelchair accessibility is important. Richardson Adventure Farm has worked to make the area as accessible as possible but they do want everyone to realize that the tulips are planted in a hay field, a farm field that has lumps and bumps. The walkways between the tulip beds are grass and weeds and while they have been flattened as much as possible, they are still uneven.

After rainy days, the ground becomes a little mushy, making it difficult to push wheelchairs or even baby strollers. The parking area is also grass.

From the tulip fields, the ground slopes down to the festival grounds where the food trucks, weekend music, games and, picnic tables are located. The slopes are within ADA guidelines. However, because the ground is rough, some people may need assistance to push their wheelchairs back up the hill.

“We have made every effort to make these lumpy fields as wheelchair friendly as possible, but you must decide on your capabilities or those of the person you are caring for,” the Richardson family said.

Because they are dependent on Mother Nature to bring the tulips to a bloom, there is no exact opening date for the Festival to begin.

“We expect it to be around the middle of April and continue for three to four weeks,” George said. “The exact dates will be listed on our Facebook page and our website, www.richardsonsadventurefarm.com.

Check them regularly for updates.”

Richardson’s Tulip Festival will be open Tuesdays through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $16 for those from 4 years of age and older Tuesday to Friday; and $19 for those 13 and older Saturday and Sunday, $16 for those 4 to 12 years old.

One free tulip may be selected with each ticket. Additional tulips may be purchased for $2 each. Bring a scissors to cut tulips.

Family dogs are allowed onsite if they are on a leash and play well with others.

Richardson’s Adventure Farm is at 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove. For other information, reach them at 815-6759729 and richardsonadventurefarm.com.