Category Archives: PYO

Thank you to all our visitors for choosing to come and support our small family farm. We loved chatting to you all and finding out where you came from – we had visitors from far and wide including a couple from South Wales who drove up for the day! Next up PYO pumpkins…

We have had a busy 10 days at the sunflowers! This is our final week and we will be open in the mornings only Wed/Thurs/Fri 16/17/18th August. The sunflowers are still glorious and we are so pleased with how well they have grown this year. They are very tall! For our final week we have something very special happening on the farm : Firtree Pottery is popping up with a Wild Clay Workshop on Wednesday 16th August – at 11am those booked on to the workshop will walk to the stream on our farm and collect clay from our stream and then hand build some pottery pieces. These will then be kiln dried and ready to collect in a couple of weeks. This was very popular at our PYO daffodils and we can’t wait to have this workshop again on our farm!

We are open this Sunday 6th August 10-4pm Please book your entry tickets to help us stagger the amount of cars arriving at once. We had a lot of rain today but tomorrow’s forecast is much brighter! However wellies are advised as this is a farm & the field can get very muddy. Don’t forget your cutters/secateurs.

We have released weekend and morning tickets for the week ahead and we will add more dates as we go along as we need to keep an eye on the weather and how the flowers are doing. The sunflowers go over very quickly so don’t delay if you’re planning on visiting us! The unsettled weather is playing havoc with our plans this year so if you see a day missing it is because heavy rain is forecast and we won’t be opening (Sat 5th for example) Oh the joys of a typical British summer!!

It’s been a week of sunflower prep – widening pathways through the field; hoeing the weeds; putting up signs (only to discover the wind has since blown them all down!) We don’t want the intense heat of this time last year but it’d be great to have something a bit more settled. Harvest is about to start – the combine has been checked all over and is ready to go… the sunflowers are all showing buds but we need some sun to encourage them to get on with it! Our aim is to open our PYO sunflowers on Sat 5th August… this is our fourth year of growing the sunflowers so we can now make a rough estimate of when they will be in flower – but still we will hold off selling tickets until we are more certain.

Imagine standing in a field bathed in golden sunlight, surrounded by a sea of vibrant blooms. The air is filled with a delicate fragrance, and you find yourself enchanted by the awe-inspiring presence of sunflowers. These majestic flowers have captivated the hearts of poets, artists, and nature lovers for centuries. In this blog post, we embark on a journey to unravel the fascinating world of sunflowers, exploring their origin, symbolism, sizes, colours, and growth habits. Origin: The Sun-Kissed Beginnings Sunflowers, scientifically known as Helianthus annuus, have a rich history dating back thousands of years. Native to North America, these radiant flowers were first cultivated by indigenous peoples who revered them for their beauty and practical uses. It wasn’t until the 16th century that sunflowers found their way to Europe, where they quickly gained popularity as ornamental plants. Symbolism and Meaning: Unveiling the Secrets Sunflowers have long been associated with the sun itself, symbolizing warmth, happiness, and longevity. Their bright, cheerful faces always seem to follow the sun’s path across the sky, a phenomenon known as heliotropism. This unique characteristic has made sunflowers a symbol of loyalty and devotion, as they constantly seek the light and embrace life’s challenges with resilience. In art and literature, sunflowers often represent optimism, abundance, and the pursuit of dreams. Sizes: From Petite Petals to Towering Giants One of the remarkable aspects of sunflowers is their vast range of sizes. From small and delicate varieties to towering giants that seem to touch the sky, there is a sunflower for every preference. Dwarf sunflowers stand at a petite height of around 1-2 feet, making them ideal for containers or border plantings. Intermediate varieties grow to a moderate height of 3-5 feet, creating a charming display in gardens. And then we have the magnificent tall sunflowers, which can reach staggering heights of 10 feet or more, casting a majestic presence wherever they stand. Colours: A Kaleidoscope of Sunshine Hues While the classic image of a sunflower is that of a radiant golden bloom with a dark center, sunflowers actually come in a wide array of colours. From deep yellows and oranges to rich burgundies and rustic browns, each hue tells a unique story. The diversity of colours allows for endless creativity when incorporating sunflowers into floral arrangements, home decor, or wedding bouquets. Whether you prefer the traditional golden sunflower or a striking variation, there’s a shade to suit every taste. Growth Habits: The Dance of Heliotropism One of the most enchanting characteristics of sunflowers is their ability to exhibit heliotropism, a term derived from the Greek words “helios” (sun) and “tropos” (turning). As young sunflowers grow, their flower heads face east to capture the morning sun, following its path across the sky until it sets in the west. This mesmerizing dance allows the sunflower to maximize its exposure to sunlight, aiding in the photosynthesis process and promoting healthy growth. Conclusion As we conclude our exploration of sunflowers, we are left in awe of their captivating beauty and profound symbolism. From their sun-kissed origins in North America to their widespread presence in gardens and art worldwide, sunflowers have woven themselves into the fabric of human culture. Their diverse sizes, colours, and growth habits add to their allure, making them a beloved choice for floral arrangements, gardens, and even a source of inspiration for various forms of artistic expression. Next time you encounter a sunflower, take a moment to appreciate its cheerful presence and the warmth it radiates. Allow yourself to be inspired by its unwavering pursuit of light and its ability to uplift spirits with its vibrant hues. Embrace the enchantment of sunflowers, for they are nature’s golden gift, reminding us to always seek the light and find beauty in the simplest of things.

We are approaching our fourth Pick Your Own Sunflower season and the plants are looking their best yet! We planted them in May – it is amazing how quickly they get established – with the right growing conditions they will be blooming before we know it. We expect to open early August but it may be earlier this year seeing how well they are growing – it is all systems go to make sure we are ready to welcome you all to our farm. When the sunflowers start to open – they open quickly and the season is generally quite short so it will be go go go! Our little tuk tuk coffee van (aka “Oscar”) had a brief appearance at our PYO daffodils but the spring was so wet we couldn’t get it through all the mud to the field… so we need to dust it off and get everything spick and span and ready for action. We will be serving locally roasted Monsoon Estate coffee again which has been a big hit at our events. So all in all we are excited about our PYO sunflowers 2023…. On other Glebe Farm notes – aside from our PYO diversification – it is also a very busy time preparing for harvest so you may well see our red combine harvesting our crops during August. Give farmer Matt a wave (from a safe distance of course!) As with everything we try to do on the farm, we need the weather to be kind! Let’s hope we have a lovely dry spell for August – not too hot as the sunflowers don’t last as long. Last year’s August heatwave meant a short sharp season. To book tickets for our PYO sunflowers visit our website. The tickets will go on sale as soon as we know the sunflowers are ready. If you are planning to visit us check out our FAQ page for all the info.