8 Instagram-Worthy Flower Fields You Must Visit
Stop and smell the roses (literally!) at these fresh flower fields that are just waiting to be explored.
Big, bold blooms as far as the eye can see. Lucious flower fields are waiting to be frolicked in. Instagram-worthy content awaits!
However, it’s not just for Instagram. There’s something magical about wandering through a field of flowers. Clearly, all is right with the world when hundreds of bright blooms are nodding at your ankles — or above your head, as the case may be.
If you think you missed springtime’s floral beauty, don’t fret. These gorgeous flower fields are ready and waiting.
In This Article
1. Fragrant Isle Lavender Farm & Shop
Washington Island, WI
There is no need to hop on a plane to France if you dream of lavender fields as far as the eye can see. Fragrant Isle on Washington Island has a full seven acres dedicated to this lovely purple crop and is the largest single-site lavender grower in the Midwest. The farm grows more than a dozen varieties of lavender, and the plant typically peaks from July to August.
Pick your own bundle. Then browse the shop for souvenirs like lavender soaps, candles and essential oils. Save time to sample the culinary lavender, too — it stars in scones, truffles, macaroons and other treats at Le Café. Then get your whistle wet by sampling some of the signature drinks at the café’s wine and craft beer bar. Nothing says summer like a lavender rosé wine slushie.
The farm also offers field tours of the farm and oil distillery on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Reservations are encouraged.
2. Glacier National Park
West Glacier, MT
Glacier National Park is best known for pristine lakes and snow-capped mountains, but during the summer, the alpine landscape unrolls a carpet of wildflowers — nearly a thousand species — from purple asters to glacier lilies.
Some have strange names. Elephant’s head, so-called for its unusual shape, blooms on the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. Beargrass, a white-tipped perennial, speckles the hill above Grinnell Lake. And fireweed, with its signature magenta hue, is all over and easy to spot along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Take in the stunning scenery of the park, from the cascading waterfalls to the fragrant flowers, and snap the perfect picture.
3. Lompoc Flower Fields
Lompoc, CA
You can’t walk through these commercial flower fields — they’re not open to the public — but you’re welcome to snap photos of them from the rural byways of Lompoc Valley. Summer brings sweet peas, bush daisies, stock and more, planted in precise, parallel rows. Begin your driving tour at the intersection of Ocean and Floridale avenues, and head west.
The fields are located in an area known as the ‘Valley of Arts and Flowers,’ and the stunning scapes don’t disappoint. Visitors can take in the spectacular colors from spring until fall. Each year, the area holds the Lompoc Flower Festival to celebrate the Lompoc Valley’s flower-growing heritage. For extra color, check out Lompoc’s 40 murals, several of which spotlight the valley’s flora.
4. Kanapaha Botanical Garden
Gainesville, FL
The pink and white petals of the Victoria water lilies at the Kanapaha Botanical Garden are dwarfed by the giant lily pads they create. Each summer, the leaves grow broader as temperatures climb and stretch as wide as 7 feet, transforming the pond into a field of water lilies. Kanapaha currently holds the record for the largest water lily ever grown in cultivation — a whopping 93 inches.
The Botanical Gardens are 68 acres comprised of two dozen major collections that line a paved walkway. The best time to visit is in mid-September to see the lilies at their biggest and best.
5. The Never Ending Flower Farm
Barnardsville, NC
The flowers here really are never-ending — at least until things get frosty in October. Visitors can find marigolds, zinnias, amaranth, strawflowers, sunflowers, snapdragons, and the like flourishing at this family-owned farm in the spring and summer months. Pick your own bouquet and enjoy the scenery. The blend of multicolored flowers in the grassy field is pretty, but the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains make the landscape truly stunning.
The Never Ending Flower Farm is located just 20 minutes north of Asheville and isn’t just a pretty place to take a picture. On the farm, visitors can pick stems from May thru September and even join the seasonal Supper Club, sampling gourmet cuisine amidst the blooms.
6. Sussex County Sunflower Maze
Sandyston, NJ
Sunflowers are possibly the happiest summer blossom, so it stands to reason that 1.5 million of them, some over 12 feet tall, are a pretty cheerful sight. See it for yourself at the Sussex County Sunflower Maze from late August to mid-September.
Photographers (and Instagrammers) will be especially delighted with the sunrise and starlight photo sessions, while kids will love the scavenger hunt. Every summer, there’s a new design for the maze, kept top secret till opening day. Stay up-to-date during the season with daily pictures and videos on Facebook. Additionally, the Sussex County Sunflower Maze is the largest sunflower maze along the east coast and was the first one in New Jersey.
7. Swan Island Dahlias
Canby, OR
It’s no surprise the largest dahlia grower in the country has a few acres — almost 40, actually — dedicated to this showy summer bloom. They’re open in August and September when the fields turn a rainbow of colors: red, white, purple, pink, orange and yellow. Swan Island produces the largest catalog of full-color dahlias in the industry and has created its own hybrid varieties and plants more than 15,000 seedlings each year. From seedling to sale, it takes between 4 and 5 years for each dahlia to develop fully.
As you stroll among more than 500,000 flowers, glimpse Mount Hood in the distance, lending the right touch of majesty. Each year the farm introduces anywhere from 5 to 15 new varieties on the nearly 50 acres open to the public. Serious Dahlia lovers can’t miss the Annual Dahlia Festival each year, featuring food, live music, workshops and other festivities.
8. English Oak Meadow, Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe, IL
You could argue that the Chicago Botanic Garden, spanning 27 gardens on 385 acres, is one giant flower field, but to see a breezy blend of annuals and perennials in a natural setting, head to the English Oak Meadow. Nestled between the English Walled Garden and the Dwarf Conifer Garden, the English Oak Meadow is home to a tapestry of vibrant flowers, blooming bulbs and a selection of shrubs nestled between a variety of oak trees.
This hillside is always colorful, but it really puts on a show with black-eyed Susans, verbena, ornamental grasses, and more from spring through fall. The backdrop of trees and birdsong is romantic, and butterflies flitting from flower to flower just add to the charm.
