Who doesn’t remember the movie, “The Wizard of Oz?” Whether you feared the flying monkeys or were wary of the Wicked Witch, there was no way you could forget this movie masterpiece. According to my Mother, I was terrified of the flying monkeys—something I shared with millions of other 6 year-olds, I’m sure. But for me, the most memorable scene was when Dorothy and her friends found themselves smack-dab in the middle of a poppy field on their way to Emerald City. My memory had completely blocked out the Wicked Witch’s poppy poisoning attempt. I figured that they all fell asleep because they felt so happy and content surrounded by thousands of silky flowers! For me, it was like Grandma’s lap, Christmas morning and the first bite of your chocolate bunny all rolled into one.

Join a Plant Society to Visit Fields of Flowers

Fast forward several decades to my first sight of a commercial peony field. I even had my little dog, too. Madeline, the Shih Tzu mix and my husband traveled north with me in search of fragrant peonies. I was thrilled to meet the folks at a large peony breeder and grower in Wisconsin who were willing to show me around, taking sniffs and snapping photos as I went. The peony field was even larger than the one leading up to Emerald City. We actually had to drive along the rows.

I found several fragrant peonies. I later found more in Minnesota in the fields of one of the few organic peony growers in the country. And I guess you could say I’ve been attempting to recreate the feeling several times a year as I travel to display gardens, u-pick flower farms, growers’ fields, and botanic gardens. Some have been of a “behind the scenes” nature, but most are open to the public on a regular basis. One way to learn the low-down and see fields of flowers is to join a plant society that focuses on your favorite.

Flower Farms

Flower farms have been cropping up just within the past few years. I’ve been seeking them out in my own proverbial backyard. Mid-summer offers up daisies of all kinds. I love the Shastas to the cone flowers, peonies, lupine, foxglove and larkspur and poppies. In late summer and fall come the phlox, goldenrod, asters, mums and Dahlias, just to name a few. Some flower growers offer u-pick by appointment, some accept drop-ins, and others sell pre-picked bouquets only or offer flower subscriptions. It’s a good idea to check their websites or Facebook pages to see which they prefer, what to bring and their open hours. One thing most flower farms have in common is that they aren’t easy to find, but are well worth every twisting turn and rutted road. Make sure you have their phone number handy on the trip so you can call when you get lost.