destinations
A Bit of Holland in Haymarket By Marianne Weaver
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Photos provided by Burnside Farms
hat started as a flower garden along a narrow piece of land on Route 15 in Haymarket has evolved into 150-acre destination in Nokesville for families, photographers and flower lovers. “We bought the Haymarket farm in 1995 to grow flowers for my mom’s florist in Mclean,” said Michael Dawley, farmer and owner of Burnside Farms. “We also grew wholesale flowers and plants for Whole Foods and local florists.” But, he said, as the field filled with blooms, he noticed people stopping along the road to take pictures in the field. “I thought, maybe it would be neat to open the fields to the public,” he said. “In 2012 we bought too many flower bulbs, and I thought we should just plant them in the field for a pick-yourown flower event. It was an overwhelming success!”
A Festival of Flowers That one planting season evolved into the Festival of Spring, where they plant more than 8 acres of spring flowers — more than a million tulips and daffodils — for a spectacular pick-yourown event. “We outgrew our Haymarket farm in 2014 and have signed short-term leases with several landowners for the past four years, the most recent being a 1-year lease on Haymarket Drive that ended because the property was sold to developers,” said Dawley. “We currently host our flower festivals on Kettle Run Drive on the edge of Bristow in Nokesville.”
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April 2020 prince william living
Dawley said they lease 77 acres and plant about 8 acres of spring flowers and about 22 acres of summer flowers. He starts planning the season about a year ahead, rotating fields every 3 years to ensure proper field health. Regardless of location, the explosion of blooms draws visitors from near and far. “Tulips are the most popular,” said Dawley. “Our tulip season is entirely dependent on the late winter/early spring weather patterns. Our 5-year average is mid/April for about three weeks. A cold spring will extend our season and a warm spring will shorten it.” The best way to plan a trip is to monitor the Facebook page, where they post daily updates. Tickets can be pre-purchased online or at the gate. Unlimited re-entry passports are also
