2024 Sunflower Update

 

July 25th Update:

Our sunflower crop has been planted at the same place as usual! Buds are about golf ball size in crop one. It looks like we should have strong bloom by the 9th of August, and we will open sooner if the sunflowers open! 

We were hoping to open the first weekend in August, but it looks like the sunflowers are a bit behind with the cooler wet spring. We have plantings staged, so once blooming starts we plan to stay open. We expect to open by the second weekend in August. Each crop blooms about 10 days, and we have 5 plantings seeded at different times. We will post daily updates during the season on bloom status along with a picture of the field on our homepage that we update each morning. We will post opening day as soon as we see large buds. We are expecting to run the sunflower field like the past several years. We hope to see you in August! Find all details below regarding admission and other details.

We have scheduled our Doggie Dress up photo contest for August 9th. Details and registration coming soon.

2024 Green Barn Sunflower Field Days

Dates & Hours

Green Barn Sunflower Field Days will be opening soon for 2024! We will update opening date 1-2 weeks before based on bloom time. We anticipate opening by August 9^th and run through Labor day, but may vary with actual bloom time.

Once in bloom, we have 5 crops planted (next to each other) so blooming should continue throughout August. Each crop blooms about 7-10 days. We will move props to the blooming field as needed. Note that the first crop is in the back of the field and the final crop will be along the front (nearest to parking). Although we hope to have great bloom throughout the month, we will update with the daily bloom status here, Facebook, and our homepage along with any special events for the day.

Field hours will be 9am-8pm opening date through August 18 and 9am-7pm August 19 until closing day. You can stay in the field until dusk-closing time is for last entry. The entrance will be blocked after closing time. Note that Garden Center hours will differ from the field hours. Google listings and directions refer to the garden center, not the sunflower field.

Weather: 

We will close if there is severe weather such as tornado sirens or lightning close by. We may close if rain causes flooding but will otherwise stay open during light rain.  We will post updates on our Facebook page and website homepage of changes as they occur. Check the forecast before your visit if traveling far!

About:

The sunflower field attracts visitors to take photos, stroll through the field, and enjoy! We have several crops planted with a circle trail through the field along with rows to walk between each crop. Props are set up to take photos with. Props include 4 stairways to view the crop, painted bicycles, Yellow "Sunflower Harvester" tractor, buggy, wagon for viewing and group photos, painted piano, Fire truck, memorial bench, sunflower bench, old truck, painted silo, and about 4-5 other tractors. Check our schedule for special events and food trucks (we will post on the top of this page). We have music scheduled at special times.

Accessibility: 

The trails become more compacted as time progresses. The sandy soil is generally not muddy after a rain, but there can be puddles after heavy rain. If there is a dry stretch of weather, the trails may be a bit dustier. Bring appropriate footwear! After some time passes, the trails can usually be navigated with strollers and wheelchairs, but it is still a field with debris and uneven spots. We would recommend visiting towards the end of the month if you might not be able to walk as far (the last crop is in the front). 

 

Admission 2024 

Admission is $7 per person (including tax). 5 years and under free. Tickets are available in field when you arrive. Admission is the same as 2023!

Photographers are welcome-the same admission applies to photographers and their clients. Please be respectful and take turns on props. There are many areas to take photos!

Season Pass: Season passes are available for $25 per person and allow unlimited entry for one guest any open days throughout the 2024 sunflower season. This is great for those who live nearby and like to stroll the trail regularly. Ticket is non-transferable. Please have ticket and ID available at each entry. 

Family Season Pass options: 

Great for families that plan to visit more than once. 

$45 for 4-5 people allows up to 4 visits for the group. Ticket is non-transferable. Please have ticket and photo ID (for one ticket buyer) present at each entry.

$67 for 6-8 people allows up to 4 visits for the group. Ticket is non-transferable. Please have ticket and photo ID (for one ticket buyer) present at each entry.

Group rate: Discounts for groups of 10+ is $5 per person.

Pets

Leashed pets are allowed in the sunflower field. Please clean up any messes! Note that pets are not allowed in the Garden Center. We will not be allowing large animal visits in 2024 (horses, etc.)

Parking

Parking is free in field. Parking on the road is not allowed. Do not park at the garden center and cross the highway by foot. Ample parking is available in field! Entry is on the South side along 265th avenue. Exit on the North side onto highway 65.

Directions

The sunflower field is West of Green Barn Garden Center, across the highway. Online directions may direct you to the garden center.

From the South: Take highway 65 to 265th avenue. Turn left onto 265th avenue. The field entrance will be on the right (there will be signs and flags). You will see the Erickson Farmstead on the left and George's Greenhouse a block before your turn. Green Barn Garden Center will be on the right.

From the North: Take highway 65 to 265th avenue. Turn right onto 265th Avenue. The field entrance will be on the right (there will be signs and flags). We are located approximately 3 miles south of Isanti. Green Barn Garden Center will be on the left, and the field on the right. 

Restrooms and Amenities

Portable restrooms will be available in the field. A restroom is also available across the highway at the garden center. Be sure to visit the garden center if open during your visit! Fresh produce, giftware, and plants are available to purchase at the garden center. 

There will be a large tent in the field with picnic benches to rest. You can use this area without admission (except on our special event night). Food trucks are scheduled most days Fridays-Sundays in August. We will post who is expected each day. Note that schedules may change. We will do our best to post updates as they happen! Feel free to follow individual food trucks for details and updates as well. We will also have music scheduled periodically. This is also available to enjoy in the tent area. 

Cut Flowers

Cut flowers will be in field for purchase in the field when available/while supply lasts. We grow many varieties of cut sunflowers in a separate field and harvest daily. Note that the Sunflower Field Days field is a black oil type sunflower. These are not ideal for cutting and do have pollen, while our specialty bouquet varieties are pollenless and harvest for maximum vase life. Cutting of flowers is not allowed in the Sunflower Days Field! This type of sunflower is used for seed harvest after maturing.

Crop:

5 crops of sunflowers were planted about a week apart. We hope to have steady blooming throughout sunflower days but will post a daily update with a photo of the field on our home page to confirm.

Link to 2023 Visitor Album-guest submissions 

Link to 2023 Professional Album-submissions from guests/businesses

Aerial footage by Flyin Sticks taken at the end of the 2022 season: https://youtu.be/tDRaa41jwCA

2023 Season Recap:

We planted 5 crops in 2023, and were open July 30th-September 4th. We had food trucks all but the last extended weekend (we added the last weekend dates because of later bloom than expected). We had music under the large tent on select weekend dates. We had over 20 props throughout the field that we moved as the bloom changed. Thank you to all who visited!

History:

We have grown sunflowers for over 25 years along with many other field crops. The sunflowers are black oil type used for bird seed. We also grow cut flower types in smaller quantities. In recent years, we have had more calls to visit the field for photos and to enjoy. With the increased interest, we created a parking area in the field in 2019 with a self-serve donation box to help with signage and maintenance of the space. Due to increased demand, we began staffing the field in 2020 and offering more amenities for the safety and comfort of visitors. We began an admission charge so we can continue opening the field and add features each year and increase our sunflower acreage! We use our irrigated land to allow a healthy, uniform crop to enjoy.

2022 Visitor Album of Facebook

2022 Professional Album on Facebook

2021 Visitor Album on Facebook

2021 Professional album of Facebook