I am amazed at the rows upon neat rows of sunflowers that stand at attention at the entrance, the sides, and at the back of a sunflower farm. This is one of the most popular flower festival locations in Richmond, BC. It’s the Richmond Sunflower Festival.
Yes, sunshiny yellow disks stare down at us as my family and the three Siberian cats (Reinhardt, Perseus, and Paisley) move from one section of the farm to another, seeking some shade from the noonday sun. The sunflowers also come in oranges, reds, and dustry rose.
We have visited this sunflower farm before, yet we always look with wonder how sunflowers can stand taller than Goliath (the biblical Philistine warrior Goliath was recorded at 9’9″), making us humans look like little Davids. Our Siberian cats, though one of the largest of domestic cats, look like dwarves in front of the sunflowers.
Some of the sunflowers are medium to short varieties, the ones we are more familiar with growing in people’s home gardens.
A large track of the 20-acre farm is also planted in dahlias, gladiolas, and wildflowers. These are planted according to types and varieties, most with labels to remove the guesswork on the names and varieties.
The colors of the dahlias are as impressive as their looks. Some are sunflower-like, others are sunburst-shaped, while a few varieties are pompom and ball shaped. My favorite dahlia prides of several blooms that resemble petite sunflower with maroon ray florets (petals) around creamy white disc florets encircling a orangey yellow disc floret buds.
The dahlias, too, with the most varieties I have seen, create colorful statements as they bloom by colors and varieties and flower shapes. I find the dahlias more alluring than the in-your-face sunflowers. (I stopped growing dahlias in our home garden because I can’t be bothered lifting the tubers for overwintering.)
The farm has held this flower festival since 2019. It is not as old or as expansive as the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival (now called Harrison Sunflower Festival) in Agassiz. But because the Richmond Sunflower Festival is much closer to Vancouver and other big cities in the Lower Mainland, this Richmond location has attracted more visitors.
Throughout August till mid-October, the tall and giant heads of the sunflowers wave merrily in the sun, or at least nod towards the direction of the blazing sun. The farm becomes a very popular pumpkin patch in October till Halloween.
Some wildflowers present a contrast to the bold flowers of sunflowers and dahlias.
The Richmond Sunflower Festival has planned well the viewing experience of visitors. Patrons ride in tractor-driven wagons, with a singer serenading the customers as they ride through the various sections of the farm with pond and a fountain, grazing cows, goats, chickens, and a few other farm animals. The wagon singers also double as the entertainers at the farm’s covered stage. After a tiring walk, you can ride back in the
wagons.
Food trucks at the farm provide customers with food and drinks. I think their hamburger was good. But their mini doughnuts tasted like baked grainy bread sprinkled with sugar (nothing special).
The drinks might be from canned juices and loaded with too much sugar but great in quenching anyone’s thirst; walking on the flower farm during the day can lead to a hydration problem, so having the drinks stand is a saving grace.
Like most other garden and flower places, the Richmond Sunflower Festival has installed rustic photobooths and viewing decks, favorite among visitors to take selfies and group photos.
The farm is pet-friendly. Our three Siberian cats are free to walk on the grass paths, and even play hide and seek among the blooming dahlia and sunflower forest. Many patrons bring along their dogs.
At the end of our visit, we checked out the Richmond Country Farms produce store. It’s a great place to buy their farm-grown corn, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
It also has an estate wine store with wine-tasting, by the exit of the farm.
Admission is $12 on weekdays and $15 during the weekend. Ample free parking is available. Located at 12900 Steveston Hwy, Richmond, it is open from noon to 7 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 7 pm on weekends.
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