Summer of Sunflowers coming soon to Burnside Farms

July has been a busy month for me for various reasons, including a week out of town. When I arrived home yesterday I realized the end of July was near, and that means it's usually time for the "Summer of Sunflowers" at Burnside Farms in Haymarket. 

This photo was taken at the old field before Burnside moved its summer display to a new and larger field

This morning I looked up their schedule to see when the sunflower festival would open and it looks like we still have some time. A message on the farm's website says:

**The 2016 sunflower season is running a few weeks behind schedule due to the rainy spring we had. We expect to open late July/early August this year.**

According to the farm's Facebook page, they will open once 20 percent of the fields are in bloom. Prices for the 2016 season have been set. Admission will be $6 per person (children under 2 are free). This includes access to the fields, picnic areas, a giant Jump Pad, corn hole games, photo ops, bubble stations and a kids' play area. There will also be a hayride offered this year. 

Taken at the new field last year

Also, as customary, the farm will offer an annual pass. This year's cost will be $10 and is good for multiple visits. Burnside anticipates mid-August being the best time to visit if only coming once.

One of the highlights of the festival is the ability to pick your own flowers. Prices for this year have been set at sunflowers $1.50 a stem, gladiolus $1 a stem and cosmos at $.50 a stem. 

If you are looking for family photos, like to take photos of nature, this festival is a great opportunity for both. 

There are lots of different bees, butterflies and other lovely critters flittering and buzzing around the sunflowers

Burnside has a few different fields, the summer flowers are located at 2617 Logmill Rd, Haymarket, VA 20169.