Ticket FAQs
Can I just show up or do I need a purchase a ticket online?
That depends.
Pre-purchasing online saves time during check-in and is the only way to ensure entry into the field. Purchasing online is also cheaper and means you will be served first at the check-in station.
We reserve the right to limit the amount of tickets available on-site and you may be turned away if you arrive without a ticket. This is especially true on busy weekends.
Does every person need a ticket, including my kids?
Every person over 5 years old must either have a “Picking” or a “Looking” ticket. Your group may mix and match the tickets to make up the total amount of flowers you would like to pick. "Picking" tickets typically include 10 tulips during the tulip season or 1 bouquet during the summer season.
What is the difference between a "Picking" and a "Looking" ticket?
A “Looking” ticket is a ticket to enter the fields and enjoy the flowers. A “Picking” ticket is a ticket that additionally includes flowers. A person with a “Looking” ticket is more than welcome to join in to help someone with a “Picking” ticket. “Looking” tickets can be upgraded to a “Picking” ticket for an extra cost.
A “Picking” ticket includes 10 tulips during the u-pick tulip season in May. During the summer flower u-pick season, a “Picking” ticket includes 25 points worth of flowers, with sunflowers being 2 points and everything else being 1 point. Additional tulips or points can be purchased at the field.
Can I pick more flowers than are included in my ticket?
Yes! During the tulip season, extra tulips can be purchased and added to your tickets online and on-site. During the summer flower season, extra points can be purchased at the field.
My ticket has an arrival time. How long can I stay?
We have timed arrival tickets to reduce congestion in the parking lot, in the check-in line, and in the wrapping station line. Once in the field, you may stay as long as you want.
I am an amateur photographer. Do I need a "Photography" ticket to take photos?
No, if you are taking photos for your own enjoyment and are not taking photos for monetary gain, then you need only purchase our regular “Looking” or “Picking” tickets. We use the honour system and ask that you make this determination yourself.
Help, I need to change my ticket!
Tickets are non-refundable, except at our discretion. We may include a $2 processing fee to cover the charges from our credit card processor. There may be a price difference payable upon visit.
To request for a ticket change
- Please respond to the ticket confirmation email you received
- Suggest a new date/time
- Or indicate you would like to convert a tulip ticket to a summer ticket (extra charges may apply)
Keep in mind that because we offer seasonal flowers, the flowers you might be looking forward to picking may no longer be in season if you choose to visit us at a later date.
Other FAQs
Are dogs and pets allowed in the fields?
Yes! We love seeing furry friends! Please keep your pets on leash and away from flowers they may damage. Additionally, please keep an eye on your pets as many flowers that we grow are not safe for them to eat.
Are you closed when it is raining?
We only close for severe weather like nearby lightning. Please keep in mind the weather where you are may not be the weather where we are! Please consult the radar map and not just the forecast. Check our website and social media for updates.
Please don’t let a grey sky stop you from visiting! The dreary skies make the bright flowers seem brighter and the gentle lighting makes for better photos. Wear your rain boots and bring an umbrella.
When is the best time to visit?
Anytime is a good time to visit as our fields are big enough that you can always find space from other visitors and there are always new flowers blooming. However, we are less busy on weekdays than we are on the weekends. If you want the best flower selection in the summertime, visit on a Friday morning. We are closed Tuesday to Thursday during the summer and so that means on Fridays there are a few days of blooms that have not yet been picked.
Do I need to bring my own tools to pick flowers?
Not at all!
Tulips are pulled straight from the ground so only hands are required. No other tools are required and we may ask you to put them back in your car if we see them. For the summer flowers, we have clippers for you to use while you are here. Gloves are not provided as we do not grow any irritating or thorny plants.
You are welcome to bring your own pail for flowers, but we also have flower picking baskets and pails available for on-site use.
Do u-pick tulips include the bulb?
No! Bulbs are not included.
Bulbs are not planted in the spring, they are planted in the fall. Bulbs pulled from our field are clipped off at the wrapping station and are discarded to reduce the chance of disease spread. If you would like to keep the bulbs from your picked tulips, they can be purchased for 25 cents each. Keep in mind that they are not likely to re-bloom because the greenery has been clipped off the bulb. They are more likely to become squirrel food than a bloom in your garden.
We sell bulbs in fall, which are new bulbs, not the bulbs that we dig out of our field. We do not dig up our field’s bulbs.
Can I bring food or a picnic to the field?
Yes! We have picnic tables to help extend your stay and you are welcome to set up a picnic blanket in the grass. We do not normally have on-site concessions, but we occasionally have food trucks during special events. Please, no portable BBQs.
When are some of the different flowers in bloom?
Flowers come and go based on the natural cycles of the seasons. You may find some beds in full bloom and other beds newly planted. This is the nature of local, seasonal flowers. Each visit brings new flowers in bloom. We grow 40+ different varieties of flowers, so there is always something in bloom during the growing season.
The year begins sometime in May with the tulip season. The season lasts for a short 2 weeks, so don’t wait on visiting! Our opening day has ranged from the beginning of May all the way to the third week of May!
Snapdragons bloom next, starting early July until August.
The sunflowers bloom from early August until first frost in September or October.
The zinnias bloom prolifically in September until the first frost.
Our sunflowers are planted so that we have blooms from late July until the first frost in September or October. Our sunflower field is not one, big field that blooms once and is finished. Rather, each week we plant seeds so that there are waves of blooms over the summer. Sections of sunflowers will finish blooming while other patches of sunflowers are in full bloom and yet others are still making buds for new blooms. We grow many different varieties and colours of sunflowers over the summer as well.
Do you grow....?
Dahlias, lisianthus, and Eucalyptus. Yes! They are in a special fenced in area and must be picked by us. We prioritize their use in our subscription bouquets, Grab&Go bouquets, and for special orders. These flowers are expensive to grow, require a lot of labour, and have special picking instructions. We do not want to risk their damage by a careless snip, pet, or kid.
Do you have group rates?
Yes! Please see this page on our website
We are also willing to open the field for private groups during times we are regularly closed. Please email us to discuss.
How do I make my flowers last as long as possible?
A few things.
- Pick your flowers at the optimal time. A flower picked before it is ready or past its prime is never going to last as long as one picked perfectly on-time.
- Change the water in your vase every day. This reduces the amount of yucky germs in the water that make it spoil faster. Those packages of flower food or a penny in the water are not needed if you are changing the water every day.
- Trim the stems if they are getting soft. This renews the flowers ability to get water. A well-hydrated flower lasts longer than a thirsty flower.
Are the bugs terrible?
Yes, during the tulip season there are times when there are a lot of mosquitoes. It seems like the first big hatch of the year coincides with the tulips in bloom. The rest of the year has mosquitoes that get particularly worse in the evenings.
During the summer season, there are lots of bees. The bees that hang around the flower fields are very gentle and are not the kind of bee that stings. We occasionally have wasps, but it is rare that they cause problems.
Can I bring my stroller or wheelchair?
Yes, however, the farm is not paved and can be uneven and muddy when wet. Some of the paths are wide enough to accommodate mobility aids and strollers, but it is not always easy to maneuver. Most of our main paths are covered in woodchips, with side paths being grassy or hard-packed earth.
Are there washrooms available?
Yes. During the picking season we have a portable washroom available. Unfortunately, it is not wheelchair accessible.
Do you sell flower seeds?
No. We do not sell seeds because the time we would spend on making seed packages available is better spent in keeping our u-pick well maintained. The seeds for all of the flowers we grow are readily available through larger online seed suppliers and we are happy to share what varieties we grow. We do sell fall-planted bulbs though!
Bulb FAQs
When can I purchase my bulbs?
Bulb pre-sales start sometime during the summer and continue until Thanksgiving. Bulbs begin arriving at our farm in late September and we start filling orders soon after. Keep an eye out for us at some local markets!
Our packages of bulbs include bone meal to help give your bulbs a boost as well.
When should I plant my bulbs?
Bulbs should be planted after Thanksgiving, which is typically once there have been a few frosts. They can be planted until the ground is frozen, which isn’t usually until December in the Ottawa area.
Is there bulk bulb rates?
Yes. If you plan to purchase more than $200 worth of bulbs, email us for bulk pricing.