August in Ottawa means one thing for flower lovers — sunflower season is in full bloom!
If you're looking to add some golden charm to your Instagram feed (or just soak up some serious summer vibes), you're in luck, since our nation's capital is prime sunflower country. The Ottawa Valley is home to a bunch of stunning sunflower farms where you can wander through fields of towering blooms that seem to stretch forever.
Whether you're planning a fun day out with friends, want to pick your own bouquet, or just need that perfect backdrop for your next profile pic, these sunflower spots are worth the drive.
Here are six sunflower farms near Ottawa where you can immerse yourself in a sea of sunshine.
Fields of Gold
Price: $15 for admission only; $35 for admission + a U-pick bouquet
When: Open now from Wednesdays to Sundays
Address: 17650 Strathmore Rd., Monkland, ON
Why You Need To Go: Only an hour away from the heart of downtown Ottawa is a little slice of golden sunflower heaven. For $15, you get to roam through a large rolling field of super-tall sunflowers, and it's perfect for those who want to take in the sights and snap plenty of Instagram-worthy photos!
If taking home a picture isn't good enough for you, for just $20 more, you can pick your very own mixed bouquet! You'll have patches of dahlias, zinnias and, of course, a wide variety of beautiful sunflowers for your custom-made bouquet. It's the ultimate venue for a date with that special somebody in your life.
Field of Gold Website
Wilmead Farms
Price: Free
When: Open now
Address: 1430 Dunning Rd., Cumberland, ON
Why You Need To Go: Unlike other sunflower farms on this list, this farm is less of a tourist attraction and more of just a regular ol' family farm — and it's only a 30-minute drive from downtown Ottawa.
On top of growing sunflowers and selling sunflower seeds, Wilmead Farms produces maple syrup and honey. All that to say, on top of the fact that you can roam around the property free of charge, you can also stock up on high-quality sunflower seeds, honey and classic Canadian maple syrup.
Sultan Farm and Sanctuary
Price: By donation (suggested amount is $5 per person)
When: Anticipated to open on August 26, 2024
Address: 8520 Flewellyn Rd., Ashton, ON
Why You Need To Go: Sultan Farm and Sanctuary is home to one of the more expansive sunflower farms in the Ottawa Valley. This 15-acre golden field is only a 30-minute drive from downtown Ottawa and is well worth the drive.
When it comes to paying a visit to the farm, admission is on a pay-what-you-can basis. There is a donation box on site for cash donations, and they also accept PayPal.
La Belle de Coteau-du-Lac
Price: $14.65 for admission; $21.30 for admission + a U-pick bouquet (online price only)
When: Opens on August 16, 2024
Address: 75 QC-201, Coteau-du-Lac, QC
Why You Need To Go: La Belle de Coteau-du-Lac is an hour and a half away from downtown Ottawa by car. Although they are primarily a strawberry farm, they grow sunflowers in the second half of August. It's also a perfect addition to a road trip to Montreal as it's pretty much right along the way!
For an additional fee, you can pick your own bouquet of blooms to take home, and they have various vase sizes at different price points depending on how big a bouquet you want. In addition to the flower field, there's a corn maze on site that's included with the price of admission.
Once you've done all that flower picking, you'll probably have worked up quite the appetite. Lucky for you, all tickets come with the opportunity to pick your very own strawberries — just make sure to grab a basket at the farm.
La Belle de Coteau-du-Lac Website
Green Corners
Price: $4.42 for admission; $22.12 for admission + a U-pick bouquet
When: Open now
Address: 1259 York's Corners Rd., Edwards, ON
Why You Need To Go: Green Corners is only a short 20-minute drive from the heart of our nation's capital and is Ottawa's largest U-pick flower farm. It allows flower lovers to pick from a wide variety of freshly grown flowers, including its gorgeous golden sunflowers during the month of August.
Be prepared to see butterflies fluttering through the vast golden fields and the collective fragrance of an army of vibrant flowers.
Central Experimental Farm
Price: Free
When: Open now
Address: 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON
Why You Need To Go: The Central Experimental Farm is one of Ottawa's most beloved hidden gems, a publically owned experimental farm only 10 minutes away from downtown and accessible by public transit.
During the sunflower season, a part of the experimental farm becomes dedicated to growing sunflowers, and since the Experimental Farm acts as a public park, you're completely free to meander through it. This is an especially great choice if you don't own a car but still want to be able to get that sunflower pic for Instagram.
