The Festival of Spring! There isn't much that makes me miss going to Burnside Farm at this time of year. It is all about the tulips, It is a family thing, with three generations of a family living and working the farm since acquiring it in 1995. They plant over two million tulip bulbs every year, all by hand, a labor-intensive chore. It's a labor of love, evident in how they run the business and how they treat the customers that seek their advice on all things flowers.

The sunlight is so brilliant as it shines across the fields, many times you can catch the light, translucent as it stands tall in the sunshine. Oh, beauty! Tulips need at least six hours a day in direct sunshine to do well. Are you able to grow tulips where you live? This was the first day they were open! The tulips are spotty, but they get better every day it is open.

They just finished rebuilding this open building. It is the entrance, ticket counter, and check-outs. It is also where you pick up a basket to put your flowers. A nice touch when you are picking your own flowers. If you need snippets to cut your flowers, they will give you some to use. First come, first serve. Even though I am there at the opening, I bring my own. Then there is no jockeying for position to get a loaner pair.

I bought a ticket in February to ensure I would be able to get one. They only allow so many in at one time and when they are sold out, there will be no more. You cannot buy a ticket at the door any longer, it is only online and you must purchase it ahead of time as they schedule the tickets. If that is too much trouble, blame Covid. They changed how they do things since then. It is easier to do it that way and not have to handle money. They don't even take cash if you buy something there. It is the way of the world, for sure.

Even the weeds are gorgeous and prolific! Can you ask for anything more? I went the first two days they were open. On the first day, you could see that there were empty spaces. On the second day, there was twice as much color! The Temperature was 88F (31C) and it was perspiring flowers. After cool nights, it was welcoming the sunshine. I had an entire cherry tree go from buds to full bloom overnight. What?!! It's True!

I have to say that although I bought a ticket, I purchases a passport which gives me admission to the Festival of Flowers for the season. This is actually only about three weeks, depending on the weather. The price for the passport is $75.00 which is a lot of money, but, I could go every day and whenever they are open, you are free to go... also: you get five free stems each time you go. As an added bonus, they also have sunflowers for a month in the summer and if you have a passport, it is free, also with three stems every day. Deal!

I look at these fields and I wonder how long it takes them to hand-plant new bulbs every year. They may or may not survive the winter in this clay soil. If you are in business, you cannot depend on fate to choose what you are doing. I have to say that we have had mild winters for quite a while now, but, it could happen that we get a cold snap or ice and snow. It is just not dependable. So they do the needful, every year. They hand plant over 2 million bulbs. I'll never whine about my two hundred or so.

I don't always replant the bulbs, I will be honest with you. I am a fifty-fifty kind of gal. I dig some up and forget where I put the others. I have to say that in some ways, Burnside might be more like me than I thought. The rows with all purple and a few red sprinkled in? Forgotten beauty or merely having an artistic moment? I am not sure, but, my vote is that it got left behind when they were pulling the bulbs. But, I think it adds a flair for the unusual pattern or color. I like it!

It is normal to go through, each row is a specific color and beautiful to come upon. However, when you are coming upon a row that has a lot of colors? This is part of the plan also. *When people are picking flowers sometimes a bulb comes with it. of course, you can keep it, or you can let them cut it off when you go to pay. They have a box (the amnesty box) where you can toss them back. Otherwise, you are charged $1.00 for each bulb, and you can take them home - they are now yours. They plant them in rows and the colors are eclectic, it's true! But all the same, just beautiful!

How do you like to plant your color? One color for a bold effect? Or do you like to be fun and flirty, mixing it all up? Would it be bad if you liked it both ways and had a mix of the unusual throughout your yard? Or do you like law and order?

Please leave the link to your post here so it can easily be found by others. It helps you and me to have them in one place. Where else can you take such a quick trip around the globe? Thank you so much for joining us!! ❤

And just like that, this post is done. I hope you enjoyed coming to the tulip farm with me. It is such a beautiful time of year, with everything blooming. As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit, and just remember, #MarketFriday loves you!! As always, there must be flowers to color my world. #alwaysaflower.

Burnside Farms is pretty convenient for me to go, a short hike across the highways, bringing me a tad rural. I willing seek out the beauty and have brought some bulbs home this year. Do you like fresh cut flowers, or do you prefer to see yours in the ground, adorning your yard?

BURNSIDE FARMS - 11008 KETTLE RUN RD. NOKESVILLE, VIRGINIA 20181