Sunflower fields and mazes on Long Island
Long Island farms have a special treat for visitors during the summer: a chance to frolic in fields with bright, yellow sunflowers. Some allow visitors to pick their own and others have mazes and photo opportunities that add to the fun. Along with the season's favorite flora, some fields feature other flowers to see including cosmos, dahlia and zinnia, plus farm stands to buy fruits, vegetables and baked goods. Here are locations that offer experiences where sunflowers are the main attraction and photo ops are plenty.
Harbes Family Farm
715 Sound Ave., Mattituck
Pick sunflowers at Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck. Credit: Harbes Farms
The sunflower field is open on weekends through the summer for strolls, photo ops and to buy bunches of flowers.
Admission to the Barnyard Adventure includes access to the field along with a musical hayride and pig races. There are also farm animals, jumbo jumpers bounce pillows, a sports zone with baseball, football and basketball tossing games. Kids can also enjoy the Lil’ Farmers PlayLand for preschoolers, a trike track, obstacle courses and a musical animatronic chicken show.
OPEN 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday July through August
COST No picking; $25.95 on Friday and $27.95 Saturday and Sunday for Barnyard Adventure granting access to field; prices start at $10.95 for a sunflower bunch, credit card only
MORE INFO 631-482-7641, harbesfamilyfarm.com
Manor Farm
210 Manor Rd., Huntington
Explore the farm where you’ll encounter a bee apiary and pollination garden. Guests can walk through the sunflower maze or head to the trail head that leads to Berkeley Jackson County Park.
OPEN Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily late July through mid-September
COST No picking; free, donations accepted
MORE INFO 631-213-1927, starflowerexperiences.org
Pindar Vineyards
37645 NY-25, Peconic
A bee visits a sunflower at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic. Credit: Newsday/David Trotman-Wilkins
The vineyard celebrates its 40th year of growing sunflowers in a field located next to the tasting house. Clippers are supplied so you can pick your own sunflowers. The vineyard also hosts occasional live music, winery tours and wineglass painting workshops.
OPEN 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily end of July through mid-August
COST $3 per stem
MORE INFO 631-734-6200, pindar.net
Patty's Berries and Bunches
410 Sound Ave., Mattituck
Alain Charles Espinoza, of Huntington, eats an apple pie ice cream cone from the Ice Cream Patch at Patty's Berries and Bunches in Mattituck. Credit: Randee Daddona
Take a stroll through the fields and spot sunflowers and other seasonal blooms like cosmos, dahlia and zinnia. Grab homemade ice cream made with farm ingredients.
OPEN 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July through October
COST No picking; $9 to enter field, $2 per stem
MORE INFO 631-655-7996, pattysberriesandbunches.org
Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden and Waterdrinker North Fork
Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden: 663 Wading River Rd., Manorville; Waterdrinker North Fork: 4560 Sound Ave., Riverhead
Megan Morris-Gray, of Port Jefferson Station, makes the "love heart" at Waterdrinker Family Farm in Manorville. Credit: Rudy Gray, Port Jefferson Station
Guests can pick their own sunflowers in the fields through the fall at both locations. Families can also meet barnyard animals, play mini golf, hop on the jump pads and ride tractor pedal cars.
OPEN 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through October
COST $20 (includes photo opportunities and children's activities including barnyard animals, mini golf and jump pads); $2 per stem
MORE INFO Manorville: 631-878-8653; Riverhead:631-779-2130, water-drinker.com. Leashed dogs permitted.
Windy Acres Farm
3810 Middle Country Rd., Calverton
Sunflowers at Windy Acres in Calverton where you can pick your own. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Guests can cut their own sunflowers when visiting the fields. Shop for fruits, vegetables, jams and roasted corn.
OPEN 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July through October
COST $1.50 per stem
MORE INFO 631-727-4554