Chesterfield, Hopewell agritourism: Pick-your-own flower farms
It has been a scorcher of a week, and according to the National Weather Service in Wakefield, hot conditions will continue throughout the weekend.
Have you ever visited a farm to pick your own flowers? If you can take the heat, it is a fun, family-friendly activity.Youngsters think it's cool, teens take advantage of prime selfie-time with sunflowers as a backdrop, adults delight in bonding time, and memories are created to cherish.
Pick-your-own flower farms in our readership area include Fresh Branch Farm in Chesterfield County and The Perfect Picks Flower Farm in Prince George County.
The Perfect Picks Flower Farm
The small, family-owned and operated row crop farming operation is in Prince George County off of Merchants Hope Road. Timmy and Taira Cibula added the pick-your-own flowers opportunity this year.
"Come witness the colorful side of agriculture," Taira Cibula said. "Our fields have sunflowers and a variety of colorful wildflowers and mixed cut flowers including zinnias and cosmos."
On occasion, the Cibula family has pre-cut flowers available for purchase starting at $15 a bouquet.
"Bring your own bucket to fill and clippers," Timmy Cibula said. "Bloom types are ever-changing throughout the season, and we are approaching the end of our season very soon."
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Crystal Puckett and her three teenage daughters had a great time picking flowers. They got caught in a light drizzle but still danced and giggled around the flower field.
"The family that owns it are really sweet and welcoming," Puckett posted on Facebook. "We are no florists, but these bouquets are so beautiful in my eyes because we did it ourselves. The memories will last a lifetime!"
Admission for ages 12 and up is a flat fee of $20, tax included. Even if you do not cut flowers, paid admission is required. Ticket holders are allowed to enter the farm, view the flowers, take photos, and fill up one five-gallon bucket or smaller with flowers in permitted areas. Buckets may have up to 50% sunflowers or announced stem limit during limited bloom quantities.
Ages 11 and under are free to enter and may help a paid responsible adult fill their bucket with flowers. The child/children must be accompanied by a parent or caretaker at all times.
"A small bathroom size trash from a dollar store works great," Taira Cibula said. "Scissors will work for mixed flowers, and pruning shears are better for large sunflower stalks."
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The Cibulas recommend sunscreen, water to drink, gardening gloves, long pants and insect spray. Popsicles and other treats to cool off with are available for purchase at the refreshment stand.
"If you want water for your flowers, fill an empty milk jug with water to bring or add a little to your bucket before you come," Taira Cibula said. "We do not have water for flowers, and we do not sell or loan buckets or clippers."
Unless Mother Nature has plans to cause the schedule to change, the picking hours are as follows: today 4 - 8 p.m., tomorrow 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 - 8 p.m., and Sunday 3 - 8 p.m. Pets, drones, smoking and events are not permitted on the premises.
The Perfect Picks Flower Farm is located directly across from Merchants Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Church at 11201 Merchants Hope Road in Hopewell. If you would like to visit outside of the planned hours, call 804-800-PICK [7425] to see if anyone is at the farm to accommodate your request.
Visit ThePerfectPicksPG.com and follow The Perfect Picks Flower Farm on Facebook for more information.
Fresh Branch Farm
The small family-owned farm located near Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County specializes in grass-fed Piedmontese beef shares and has a large flock of free-range chickens.
The Allen family hosts a pick-your-own sunflower festival every summer. Admission to the festival is $10 per car and sunflowers are $.50 per stem.
Participants must provide their own scissors or shears to cut-their-own sunflowers, and well-behaved pets on a leash are welcome.
Julie Keaney was grateful for her flower-gathering experience at Fresh Branch Farms.
"Your staff was so friendly and helpful," Keaney posted on Facebook. "Even the goats made me smile."
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The 7th annual pick-your-own sunflower field will be open today from 4 - 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, the final day of the season, between 2 - 8 p.m. Due to weather and growing conditions, the Allens will not have a second bloom this year.
Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office retiree, Lt. Aubrey “Lawrence” Taylor III and his wife Mi Taylor happily welcome the Sunflower Festival to take place on their family farm Ivey Mill Farms at 13801 N. Ivey Mill Road in Chesterfield.
Photographers are welcome to use the sunflower/flower fields in photo sessions. Visit each farm's social media platforms for more information on fees and details.
“To keep the flowers from being messy, put a little hairspray in the center of the flower. It keeps it from losing the pollen everywhere,” John and Chris Allen's nine-year-old daughter Charlotte said. “And, put a little Sprite in with the water to keep them perky.”
“If you don’t have any Sprite, just add a wee bit of sugar to the water,” Chris Allen added.
On Saturday at Fresh Branch Farm, the American Heritage Girl troop will be operating an Anthem Lemonaid stand, and on Sunday, Sol Jackson, a Chesterfield 4-H member, will be selling homemade cupcakes and cookies. The Allens will have local honey items and bottled water available for purchase.
Picking-your-own flowers is weather dependent. Visit Fresh Branch Farm on Facebook or Instagram for an updated schedule. If you have questions, call 804-937-9993.
Experience agritourism… visit one of the farms this weekend, and take home some beauties.
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— Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly columnist is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell, Chesterfield agritourism: Pick-your-own flower farms
