Summary
1. Vermont’s Sunflower Bloom
Vermont is about to get just a little more summer cheer thanks to the massive sunflowers at the Billings Farm & Museum. The farm, located in Woodstock, Vermont, is famous for its annual sunflower bloom, which takes up more than 20,000 square feet and features thousands of sunflowers.
The farm is set to open this year on June 24, with the bloom expected to peak toward the end of July through mid-August. Blooms, the farm shared in a statement, can last through early September.
2. Master Gardener Ben Pauly
It’s indeed an Instagram-worthy spot, all created and maintained by master gardener Ben Pauly. He works at the nearby Woodstock Inn & Resort and has a passion for landscape design, complemented by a degree in architecture. Pauly has utilized these skills to create one of the largest sunflower gardens in the United States.
Visitors can expect blooms ranging in size from 18 inches to towering 14-foot-tall sunbursts, all planted in a maze-like structure that guests can meander through. Therefore, guests are encouraged to snap as many photos as they’d like and share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #VTSunflowerHouse. As a bonus, visitors who post a photo using this hashtag will be entered to win Billings Farm cheese.
3. Diverse Garden Experiences
Beyond the sunflowers, Pauly has also developed other garden masterpieces, including the Heirloom Garden, Permaculture Garden, and the Chef’s Garden. Additionally, there is the Pollinator Garden and the Herb Garden.
In the Heirloom Garden, visitors will discover produce that would have been grown in Vermont in the 1890s, featuring plants selected from an 1886 Billings Farm seed order, such as Bull Nose Peppers, Bear Paw Popcorn, and Tall Telephone Peas. Moreover, walking around the Permaculture Garden, guests can find several low-maintenance plants like asparagus, blueberries, and elderberries while learning about planting similar items in their home gardens.
The Chef’s Garden is designed to inspire visitors interested in gardening. Here, they’ll find the Pizza Garden, filled with essential ingredients for a pie like wheat, tomatoes, and basil, alongside the Victory Garden, which reflects the WWII gardening style aimed at promoting home-grown fruits and veggies.
Last but not least, the Pollinator Garden is dedicated to attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, thereby enhancing the ecosystem.
4. Admission Information
The entire farm is now open daily through October 30 between 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission includes all activities, although special events and programs may require an additional fee. Here are the ticket prices:
- Adults: $17
- Seniors: $15
- Students: $9
- Children ages four to 15: $8
- Guests of the Woodstock Inn & Resort can enter the garden for free.
