7 Photo-Worthy Flower Farm Experiences in Minnesota
There’s something magical about stepping into a flower field; rows of color stretch toward the horizon, and you feel an irresistible urge to slow down and sniff the roses… and dahlias, and cosmos, and hyacinths, and tulips.
Across Minnesota, dozens of flower farms offer unique and beautiful experiences. From peaceful lavender fields to vibrant pick-your-own gardens buzzing with bees and butterflies, there’s a farm in the Minnesota Grown directory waiting to welcome you.
Whether you’re planning a single outing or an entire season of visits, these farms invite you to slow down, take a few photos, and let Minnesota agritourism surprise you, one bloom at a time.
Buds in Bloom at Brand Farms, Farmington
Flower fields and apple orchards sit side by side on this fourth-generation farm, where mother-and-son duo Brenda and Aaron Brand run adjoining businesses. Buds in Bloom, Brenda’s domain, offers a peaceful, no-rush pick-your-own experience where visitors can wander rows of blooms and design a bouquet entirely their own.
Stroll through the beds where 20+ flower varieties showcase every shade, shape, and texture imaginable. Wide grassy paths make it easy to explore, and helpful signs identify each bloom, plus a few tips, like the “wiggle test” to know when a zinnia is ready to cut. Dahlias and lisianthus are the showstoppers here, with limited stems available per bouquet, so everyone can enjoy them.
Brand Farms, Aaron’s operation, offers pick-your-own apples, a pumpkin patch, and family fun activities like an apple cannon, hayrides, and more. The farm also hosts a tulip festival with 160,000 bulbs in May and a sunflower field, eyes only, later in the summer.
Before you go, visit The Brand Barn, or Farm Store, to stock up on the farm's eggs, meats, and other delicious locally made products.
Plan Your Visit
Buds in Bloom is open daily from 9 a.m.–6 p.m., with an honor-system model. The uneven ground is manageable for mobility devices, but it can be a bumpy ride.
Make a Day of It
Grab a coffee from BlueNose Coffee or Beans and Boots just minutes away, or enjoy lunch at Bourbon Butcher. Rosemount has plenty of restaurants to round out the day. Brenda’s favorite way to enjoy the morning is with a warm cup in hand, strolling through the flowers.
Flower Valley Orchards, Red Wing
For more than 50 years, Flower Valley Orchards was a beloved apple orchard, and it still carries the name in honor of that history. In 2018, the family transformed the lower orchard into a pick-your-own flower farm, and visitors have been falling in love with it ever since.
Today, nearly half an acre bursts with color all season long. You’ll find 25 varieties grown in tidy rows: zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, amaranth, and a vibrant pollinator garden buzzing with butterflies and hummingbirds.
Build your own bouquet, wander the rows with your camera at golden hour, or join one of their creative workshops with Red Wing Arts — everything from eco-printing fabric with flowers to plein air watercolor. Their monthly community picnics pair live music with s’mores, bonfires, and relaxed time in the field, while the annual Dog Day is a fan favorite, complete with a “dog bar” and wag-worthy gift bags.
Plan Your Visit
Open Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., July through September, with weekday appointments available. Flowers are sold by the cup, think wide-mouth mason jar, and sunflowers are priced by the stem.
Make a Day of It
Red Wing is just 12 minutes away and full of reasons to hang around. Grab lunch or dinner at Scarlet Kitchen inside the historic St. James Hotel, stroll the sculpture walk along the riverfront, or stop into the Depot Gallery to browse local art.
Don’t miss the giant boot at Red Wing Shoes or the scenic overlook at Memorial Park for sweeping bluff and river views. Downtown boutiques, cafés, and a local game shop make it easy to spend an afternoon exploring.
Hilltop Harvest, Redwood Falls
This scenic, generational family farm offers one of the most relaxed pick-your-own flower experiences in the state. Wide, grassy aisles provide easy access to a patchwork of colorful flowers, giving visitors room to move, explore, and discover their favorite blooms at their own pace.
Kids can run off energy in a fenced play area next to the field while grown-ups browse and pick their stems. The fields are full of classics like dahlias, cosmos, zinnias, snapdragons, other specialty cut flowers, plus herbs and greenery like eucalyptus to build a stunning bouquet.
For those a bit intimidated by designing their own bouquet, Hilltop also hosts small, intimate Dahlia Garden Parties. These parties provide a chance to stroll a stunning display of 600 dahlias with the farm’s 1880 barn as a backdrop, enjoy snacks, and take home a curated bouquet. They’re perfect for anyone seeking a slower, guided floral experience.
Plan Your Visit
Hilltop opens the first weekend of August through late September, with the pick-your-own field blooming steadily all season thanks to thoughtful succession planting. The new self-serve hours, Thursday–Sunday all day, allow guests the flexibility to visit when it fits their schedule, for a personal and relaxing experience.
Make a Day of It
Stop at The Golden Rule Coffee House, Grandview Winery, or explore Ramsey Park’s waterfalls, paved trails, historic bridge, and small zoo. If you’re visiting in late September, the Redwood Falls Fall Festival fills downtown with vendors, food trucks, and live entertainment.
Joyer Adventure Farm, Lino Lakes
Less than half an hour from the Twin Cities and part of the more than 100-year-old Waldoch Farm property, Joyer Adventure Farm is a vibrant, sensory-rich escape where families can spend an entire day immersed in agriculture, flowers, and hands-on fun. Visitors are often surprised by how close it is to the metro and how quickly it feels like you’ve been transported to “Grandma’s farm.”
The sunflower field is thoughtfully planted with staggered plantings that bloom from mid-August through mid-September to ensure bright, reliable color for weeks. Two flower areas give visitors options: a sunflower walk for photos only, no picking, and a large pick-your-own field filled with sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, and more. Every guest gets to pick a sunflower, and many choose to take extra blooms home.
But flowers are just one piece of this farm’s all-season fun. Each six-week stretch brings a new feeling, from summer strawberries to the big-as-a-beach corn pit in fall. Scenic photo-ops dot the property, including a clawfoot bathtub overflowing with blooms and a swinging bench tucked into the garden.
Plan Your Visit
Give yourself at least an hour, though most families stay much longer. Sunflower season hours are Thursday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Make a Day of It
It’s easy to stay right on the farm with all the activities available, but if you do want to explore beyond the flowers, Wargo Nature Center and several nearby parks and lakes offer quiet trails and wildlife spotting.
Lavender Barnyard, Eureka Township
Set on a historic 125-year-old former dairy farm, the Lavender Barnyard feels like a little piece of the French countryside in Dakota County. The farm grows 13 varieties of lavender, each with its own shade, texture, and scent. It’s one of the only Minnesota lavender farms open to the public with mature, established plants.
Owner Marie Schuhwerck has built a devoted following through community gatherings from cozy fiber arts circles to her wildly popular “picnic date night” experiences, which always sell out via newsletter signup. She loves helping visitors learn which lavender varieties are best for drying, crafting, or scent because not all stems behave the same once harvested.
Plan Your Visit
Pick-your-own and tours are appointment-based, and Marie provides guidance on how and what to harvest. Lavender doesn’t need water after picking, so it’s a great stop anytime during the day.
Make a Day of It
Stop at Brand Farms just down the road to pair lavender with fresh-cut flowers. Nearby Niche Books in Lakeville is a must-see for book lovers, Barn on the Hill offers local artisan finds, and the Minnesota Zoo is an easy add-on for families.
Owl Forest Farm, Iron
Surrounded by Northwoods trees, Owl Forest Farm is a floral haven unlike anything else on the Iron Range. With thousands of blooms, manicured grassy walkways, and picturesque views in every direction, it feels both expansive and serene.
Visitors can choose from classic pick-your-own, photography sessions, or a growing lineup of workshops. Flower crown classes, farm-to-vase sessions, and hands-on arranging help even hesitant pickers feel confident. New in 2026, “Fitness in the Flowers” brings strength training classes right into the fields. Owner Kate Paul’s inspiring recovery journey sparked a passion for helping people build strength and connection with nature in a beautiful setting.
Owl Forest Farm grows an astounding 60+ varieties of annuals, plus tulips, over 15,000, peonies, lilies, and four successively planted sunflower patches so fresh blooms appear from early August until frost.
Plan Your Visit
The fields are open from May through September. Evening hours on Wednesdays and Fridays offer gorgeous golden-hour photo opportunities, and the farm welcomes visitors to linger and relax as long as they like with their entry or flower purchase.
Make a Day of It
A visit to Owl Forest Farm is the perfect springboard for a Northland day trip. Explore Cherry Greenhouse, stop by the Thirsty Moose, don’t miss the prime rib burger, soak in the sights at Mine View in Hibbing, bike the Mesabi Trail, visit Giants Ridge, or birdwatch at Sax-Zim Bog.
Rustic Designs Flower Farm, Belgrade
This well-established Central Minnesota flower farm has been growing, teaching, and creating floral magic for 15 years. Rustic Designs has become a destination for anyone who loves fresh flowers, hands-on workshops, or peaceful mornings surrounded by blooms.
Rustic Designs is open year-round thanks to its charming farm store where classes, terrarium workshops, winter greenery, and seasonal arrangements keep things bustling even in the coldest months. But summer is when the fields shine, drawing visitors back again and again to see what’s blooming and gather bouquets that capture the season.
Plan Your Visit
Early-morning cutting hours are 8–10 a.m. Thursday–Saturday to ensure flowers stay fresh and hydrated. After 10 a.m., visitors can stroll the fields for free and purchase stunning pre-cut bouquets.
The farm offers a walk-in cooler for temporarily storing bouquets if you’re heading into New London or Belgrade for lunch.
Make a Day of It
Hike Mount Tom at nearby Sibley State Park, grab ice cream at Red Onion in Belgrade or Deep Freeze in New London, or enjoy craft beer and great food at Goat Ridge Brewing. Sweet River Café and Redhead Creamery make excellent stops to add to your itinerary.
Find more destinations, activities, and hidden gems on Minnesota Grown's Farm Experiences page.
Know Before You Go
- Always check a farm’s social media or website for hours, availability, and weather-related updates.
- Early mornings are the best time to cut fresh flowers, but golden hour is a popular time to capture show-stopping photos. It’s all about what you’re looking for on your flower farm adventure!
- Wear comfortable shoes, dress for the weather, and prepare to be outdoors. If you’re taking photos and want to wear fancier footwear, bring an extra pair and change into them before the shoot.
- No need to bring containers or clippers! Pick-your-own farms have everything you need to get started when you arrive.
- If you’re looking for professional photos, ask the farmer who they work with. Often, flower farmers and local photographers coordinate to offer beautiful and unique sessions.
