As the landscape turns green and warm weather arrives, Iowa's flower farms come to life with vibrant colors and overflowing gardens. These six farms open their gardens to the public for you-pick fun, classes and events throughout the spring and summer. Add them to your next Iowa itinerary to embrace the art of gardening and treat yourself or a special someone to a hand-picked, hand-crafted bouquet.
Pheasant Run Farm - Belle Plaine
What started as a family row crop and farrow-to-finish swine farm is now a beautiful and relaxing summer destination. Ann and Eric Franzenburg have been farming since 1992 and are constantly exploring new ways to diversify their farm. They started by growing culinary herbs then joined research efforts to investigate Iowa’s growing practices. So, they built a greenhouse and added medicinal herbs, fresh produce, cut flowers and sunflower fields to their operation. Now, the Belle Plaine farm is open to the public on select summer mornings for you-pick fun and in early to mid-August for their well-known sunflower experience.
Miss Effie's Country Flowers - Donahue
Escape the city life and instead spend an afternoon strolling through overflowing flower gardens. Miss Effie’s is situated in the beautiful countryside near Donahue and welcomes visitors to craft their own bouquets from the gardens. After you perfect your floral arrangement, you can relax in the corn gazebo, play with the farm cats and grab photos to capture the memory forever.
Loess Hills Lavender Farm - Missouri Valley
Enjoy the peace, quiet and stunning beauty of the Loess Hills and the mystical and magical herb, lavender. Recognized as the only lavender farm in Iowa, the Missouri Valley attraction maintains a goal of inspiring people through natural beauty and providing a place of relaxation. Today, you can visit the farm throughout the spring and summer, and attend events such as the Lavender Stock Festival, where visitors can cut a lavender bundle, attend a craft class, enjoy live music, and browse the many vendor tables scattered throughout the fields.
Kroul Farms - Mount Vernon
With a family legacy of being stewards of the land, Kroul Farms shows what Iowa farming is all about. Owners John and Kaylene Kroul maintain his parents’ farming roots while also embracing sustainable farming methods and the health-conscious consumer. Now, they welcome visitors to their rural oasis near Mount Vernon to learn about agriculture and shop produce year-round. Their visitor numbers especially soar during the spring, when families flock to the farm’s three greenhouses dedicated to flowers, garden starters, containers and planting supplies. Shop and browse on your own or sign up for a class to dive deeper into the art of gardening. Be sure to keep your eye on their calendar to attend even more exciting farm events.
Harvestville Farm - Donnellson
This fifth-generation farm in Donnellson invites you to embrace all the best things about farm life. Taste test farm fresh produce with their Farm-to-Table dinner events, shop herbs, seeds and fresh produce or peruse the farm’s extensive gardens and potted plants. If you’re a true flower enthusiast, you won’t want to miss its zinnia and sunflower festivals, which open the fields for you-pick fun. Or keep your eye out for the Supper, Sunset & Sunflowers and the Brunch, Bubbles & Blooms events for the perfect couples or family outing.
Wild Bird Farm - Madrid
Started by Tara, a passionate gardener, and supported by her husband and two daughters, this small flower farm operation is located just outside of Madrid and prides itself in providing fresh, in-season flowers to brighten up your home or event. Follow their calendar and keep your eye out for the you-pick days and events, shop their selection of seasonal flower bouquets, bulk buckets and bud vase sets and even experiment with edible flowers to spruce up your next cocktail or charcuterie board.
Notable Up-and-Comers
These flower farms are slowly making their way into the mix to offer limited you-pick days and bouquets for area events:
- Schaapveld Sprouts - Muscatine
- Bochner Farms - Indianola
- Walnut Trail Farms - Stuart
