Have you always dreamed of being Alice, magically lost in a flower-filled Wonderland? You can live your most colourful floral dreams by visiting flower farms around Ottawa, where you can create your own bouquet. Dahlias, snapdragons, lavender, sunflowers and many other varieties are waiting to be picked.
Explore enchanted gardens and bring home a bouquet from these pick-your-own flower farms, all less than two hours from Ottawa.
Green Corners Farm
Distance from Ottawa: 0.5 hours
Frolic through garden beds full of zinnias, snapdragons, cosmos, sunflowers and endless greenery. On top of the many flower varieties, including more than ten types of sunflowers, this floral haven will have marigolds and carnations for the first time this year. For just $30, you can fill your basket with your heart’s fancy using a system where each flower is worth certain points. Each $30 purchase includes 25 points. Not into build-a-bouquet? No worries! Admission to visit the farm and fill your Instagram channel with endless selfies is just $5. Buy a ticket online ahead of time to avoid disappointment and save on entry. The season usually runs from early July to the first frost (in late September or October).
Roam Flora
Distance from Ottawa: 1 hour
This solar-powered farm is home to a rainbow of blooms and will post its pick-your-own flower events a week in advance on Instagram and its newsletters. After the spring tulips, there are a variety of blossoms. From peonies in late spring to cosmos and zinnias in late June into July, you can end the summer with sunflowers and dahlias, among others, throughout the season. The prices for bouquets start at $30 and can range in size to $75 for large buckets of blooms.
Fields Of Gold
Distance from Ottawa: 1.15 hours
Watch for the gold rush this summer! In addition to big and bold sunflowers, there are about 20 other varieties you can pick, such as dahlias, cosmos, and zinnias. The price to pick your own bouquet is $35, including entrance to the farm. The U-pick patch will be operating from Friday to Sunday, and you can make an online reservation. There is also a bloom bar where you can buy a pre-made bunch, plus several summer events like a paint night, sunset yoga, meditations and photography sessions.
Loulou Lavender
Distance from Ottawa: 1.5 hours
Forget the lavender fields of France! This summer, surround yourself with blooming fields of green and purple. There is no admission fee to visit this flower farm, but you can pick lavender bouquets starting at $6 each. There is also a gift shop where you’ll find lavender and other locally-made products. Lavender treats, including flavoured ice cream and cookies, will be on sale this summer, and there will also be a lavender field yoga event. The lavender season typically begins at the end of June and continues into the first few weeks of July.
Gossamer Gardens
Distance from Ottawa: 1.3 hours
Near the quaint town of Perth just west of Ottawa, you can stroll blooming fields and create a custom bouquet at Gossamer Gardens. Grab clippers and a supplied container with water and go wild collecting stems from the garden for $30 admission, including the flowers. Feel free to bring a container to transport it home. You’re also welcome to bring snacks and water since the farm does not sell food. Prearranged bouquets, farm-fresh eggs and edible flowers will be for sale too. You’ll find flowers like snapdragons, peonies and irises.
La Belle de Coteau-du-Lac
Distance from Ottawa: 1.75 hours
Head over the river to Quebec for two summer flower festivals at a farm that also grows fruits and veggies. Flower season kicks off with Festi-Fleurs. On select dates between July 21 and August 6, you can pick a bouquet from over 200 floral varieties. There are over 50 types of sunflowers to choose from during the Tournesol en Fleur, which runs on weekends from August 18 to September 4. Admission includes a jar to carry our blooms and is $23 for Festi-Fleurs and costs $28 during Tournesol en Fleur (sunflower season). You can also pick berries for part of the season and enjoy food like burgers and desserts.
Before you hit the road, bring your CAA Membership
From just $30 a year, CAA Members save wherever they go. You can save when dining out on your road trip or when filling up at Shell (save 3 cents a litre on fuel). You can view the list of 126,000 partner locations worldwide online.