DESTINATIONS

A Bit of Holland in Haymarket

By Marianne Weaver

What 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.”

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

Caption

available and recommended for anyone who plans to visit more than once. Children under 2 are free.

Unlike some gardens that are merely a sight to see, Burnside flowers are for sale. Prices fluctuate throughout the season, and options include daffodils, tulips and bulbs.

Kids won’t be bored. In addition to the flowers, there are also bounce houses, a playhouse, cornhole games, a short-film cinema in the barn, corn sandbox, more than 100 pairs of authentic Dutch wooden shoes to try on and a picnic area.

More Than a Moment in the Sun “After the success of our 2012 tulip season, we decided to add pick-your-own sunflowers for our 2013 summer season since

we were already growing wholesale sunflowers,” he said. “Our sunflower season was also very successful and runs for about 6 weeks starting around mid-July.”

Myesha Logan, from Roanoke, Virginia, discovered Burnside while searching online for Virginia sunflower fields.

“I had been planning the trip for about four months, so I did a lot of research and to make sure the trip was well worth it,” she said, noting that she and her girlfriend visited on Aug. 17, 2019.

“I was honestly surprised at the size of the actual farm and impressed that you were able to cut your own sunflowers to take home for a small fee,” she said. “Based on the hospitality, along with the sunflower umbrellas that they lend to you alone, I would 100% recommend that anyone looking to visit a sunflower farm visit Burnside first.”

Dawley said he tries to make sure every visitor walks away with that type of positive review.

For up-to-date information about Burnside’s hours and offerings, visit BurnsideFarms.com. The flower fields are located at the Nokesville Farm at 11008 Kettle Run Road.

Marianne E. Weaver (mweaver@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance editor and writer. She earned a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MJ from Temple University.

No one covers Prince William like we do. While we wish we could do it for free, we do need your help to continue providing the level of quality you’ve come to expect.

Only $20 gets you a full year of Prince William Living, delivered directly to your door!

To subscribe, visit pwliving.com/subscribe.

There’s a reason why Imagine is among the most awarded marketing agencies in Virginia.

And we invite you to find out why for yourself. From branding to social media, we care about one thing above all else: the success of your organization. Contact us today to see what we can do for you.

PrinceWilliam'sNew PCGamingCenter 65 PC & console stations in sleek, ultramodern esports facility Many popular games Parents play free with paid 13 & under kids Sat/Sun until 5pm! Available for birthday parties & company events Bring this ad in for 1 FREE extra hour with any purchase of game time at regular price.

13592JeffersonDavisHwy Woodbridge, VA 22191 (571) 206-1400 I www.techtimegaming.com

SPRING SPECTACULAR Savings!

Move into a New Apartment Home and You’ll Receive: 50% off Your 3rd and 7th Month! *

To schedule your complimentary lunch and tour, call (703) 429-0290

Prince William Commons

*Offer expires on 4/30/20. New residents only. Some restrictions apply.

www.HarborChase.com

In matters of the heart, time means everything

Our second cardiac cath lab is now open

Having high-quality cardiac care close to home puts time on your side. Our communities rely on Novant Health UVA Health System Prince William Medical Center for quality cardiac care when they need it most. Opening a second cath lab increased our ability to provide life-saving and elective cardiac procedures. That means more patient access to diagnostic and interventional catheterizations, electrophysiology and peripheral vascular services, heart attack treatment and ongoing wellness. Your heart is in good hands with the expert physicians at our state-of-the-art cardiac cath lab.

Find a provider at NovantHealthUVA.org/cardio