Sunflower fields and mazes on Long Island
Take home a bunch of sunflowers from Patty’s Berries and Bunches in Mattituck. Credit: Linda Rosier
Long Island farms have a special treat for visitors during the summer: a chance to frolic in fields of bright yellow sunflowers. Some allow visitors to pick their own, while 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, dahlias, and zinnias, 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 abound.
Harbes Family Farm
715 Sound Ave., Mattituck
Buy sunflowers at Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck. Credit: Harbes Farms
The annual Sunflower Festival runs 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 12-13, with live music from 1 to 6 p.m. both days.
The sunflower field is open daily through the summer for strolls, photo ops with a purchase of the Barnyard Adventure ticket ($17.95-$28.95) or buy bunches of flowers at the farmstand.
Admission to the Barnyard Adventure includes access to the field along with a musical hayride and pig races (weekends). There are farm animals, jumbo jumpers bounce pillows, and a sports zone with baseball, football and basketball tossing games. Kids can enjoy the Lil’ Farmers PlayLand for preschoolers, a trike track, obstacle courses and a musical animatronic chicken show.
- OPEN 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday-Sunday through August
- COST No picking; $17.95 Monday-Thursday, $26.95 on Fridays and $28.95 Saturdays-Sundays and holidays 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
Lenny Bruno Farms
740 Wading River Rd., Manorville
Head to the farm for the Sweet Summerfest featuring u-pick sunflowers, live music, access to a variety of artisan vendors, entry into the watermelon eating contest, a foam bubble party, playgrounds, pedal cars and jumbo garden games. The farm hosts animal meet-and-greets, offers photo opportunities and there is fresh produce for sale. Hop on a scenic hayride tour with farm owner Dominic Bruno to learn how vegetables are grown ($5 additional fee).
- OPEN 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 19
- COST $10; $1 per stem (There is no fee to walk through the fields when there is not an event happening)
- MORE INFO 631-591-3592, lennybrunofarms.com
Manor Farm
210 Manor Rd., Huntington
(Clockwise from left) Andrea Francisco, Leah Chin, Douglas Chin, Gilbert Chin and Stephanie Mah pose for a photograph at Manor Farm in Huntington. Credit: Andrea Francisco, East Setauket
The Summer Festival running noon to 8:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 (rain date: Aug. 24) features live music, sunflower maze and arts and craft vendors. Bring a chair or blanket. Admission is $10, $5 ages 3 to 17.
The sunflower fields open in July (weather permitting). Guests can walk through the sunflower maze or head to the trail head that leads to Berkeley Jackson County Park. Explore the farm where you’ll encounter a bee apiary and pollination garden.
- 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 41st year of growing sunflowers in a field located next to the tasting house. Clippers are supplied so visitors 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 mid-August to early September
- COST $2 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 (July through October) 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. daily through October. Last entry into the field is 5:30 p.m.
- COST No picking; $10 to enter field includes carton for your own berry picking. Strawberry picking (quart container) in June. Raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry picking (pint container) in July and August; $2 per stem.
- MORE INFO 631-655-7996, pattysberriesandbunches.org. Pets are not allowed in the picking rows.
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 mid to late summer through the fall at both locations. 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. Riverhead location closed Monday-Tuesday.
- 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 4:30 p.m. daily through October
- COST $2 per stem
- MORE INFO 631-727-4554
