by AMANDA WINTERS

Sequim Gazette

People who use the Olympic Discovery Trail just west of Railroad Bridge Park got to tiptoe through the tulips this spring thanks to a team of volunteers and The Home Depot.

In January, volunteers with the Peninsula Trails Coalition planted between 5,000 and 6,000 tulip, daffodil and hyacinth bulbs donated by The Home Depot, coordinator Lee Bowen said.

The bulbs were among 10,000 left over from the selling season and they needed to go somewhere, Bowen said.

Through The Home Depot employee and coalition volunteer Rick Cooper, excess bulbs were first donated to the coalition two years ago, work party coordinator Carrie Kalina said.

The first year, bulbs were planted on the east end of Sequim, the second year they were planted along the Olympic Discovery Trail at Kitchen-Dick Road and this year the corner of Sawmill Road and East Runnion Road was chosen, she said.

“It’s a win-win situation for us and The Home Depot,” Bowen said.

The soil wasn’t very good so he was concerned the bulbs wouldn’t do well but they enjoyed the cool spring weather and blossomed beautifully, he said.

He hopes the flowers will bloom again next year. The trail is an asset to the community and very much appreciated, he said.

Kalina said if the coalition receives more bulbs next year, they may plant them near the Morse Creek entrance to the Olympic Discovery Trail.

Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.