With the arrival of my little muse in November of 2020, I finally have the perfect excuse to fulfill all my photography dreams. I’m much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it, and my husband doesn’t really “get” artsy photos, so my daughter is the perfect subject. One thing I’ve always wanted to photograph is a field of sunflowers, particularly at sunset or sunrise. Luckily, many farms in the DMV are dedicated solely to these gorgeous blooms. This past weekend we found the perfect spot for sunflowers in Southern Maryland at Goldpetal Farms.
Goldpetal Farms is located about 1.5 hours south of Annapolis in the tiny town of Chaptico. Goldpetal is known for its amazing sunflower mazes which feature a new theme each year. Their first maze opened in 2015, and today Goldpetal features three mazes every year. One maze takes about 250 hours and over two months to get ready for opening day. The mazes are planted in stages to keep the season going from about late July-September.
This past weekend, when we visited, maze two was in full bloom and open for visitors. Admission is $15 per adult (children under 6 are free). We arrived at about 6:00 pm to catch golden hour and sunset. In addition to the gorgeous sunflower mazes, there is an extensive collection of zinnias and a smaller pick-your-own garden. There are also a few lovely little benches and picnic tables set up along the main path for adorable photo ops.
We spent about two hours wandering around the maze, eating dinner, and watching the bees and butterflies. We also managed to visit on an evening with very minimal other guests so we essentially had the place to ourselves. I don’t know how we got so lucky but I’ll take it!
Tips and Tricks:
- Stay up to date on Facebook: Here they post current conditions, cancellations, and other news.
- Bring Water and Snacks: There is a small concession stand, but the farm encourages you to bring a picnic and stay a while. It was also the dead heat of summer when we visited and the sun was very intense.
- Plan to carry your little ones: While the main path is fairly stroller friendly, the maze itself is very uneven.
- Go at sunset: The farm stays open late to allow for sunset photos. We, unfortunately, got rained out before the sun went down fully, but it was still gorgeous.
- On that note, watch for storms: If something looks like it’s coming toward you it probably is. It’s summer in Maryland after all.
- Prepare for grass parking: The lot is unpaved but level. A sedan would do fine.
- Your only bathrooms are portapotties: They are clean and fine, but they’re all you get.
Admission:
Admission includes access to painting stations, corn hole, and other games, photo ops, and beautiful areas to hang out, take pictures, and enjoy picnicking (bring your own).
- General: $15 age 7+ / kids 6 and under are free
- Military with ID: $12
- Groups of 5+ age 7 and up: $12 each
- Season Pass for ONE: $29 unlimited visits for all (planned) three mazes
- Season Pass for TWO: $49 unlimited visits for all (planned) three mazes
- Professional Photographers taking photos for hire: $50 Day Pass/$150 Season Pass
Cut Flower Prices:
- Sunflowers: $1 per stem, $5 for six
- Zinnias: $0.50 per stem
Beautiful photos. Kudos to you and the human subjects as well as the nature ones.
Thank you! I’m really happy with how they turned out.
Such beautiful photos. I once read that sunflowers are unique in that they have the ability to provide energy in the form of nourishment and vibrancy—attributes that mirror the sun and the energy provided by its heat and light. Aiva 🙂 xx
Oh I love that! Sunflowers make me so happy.
Love the photos and story of your adventure! 🌻🐝💛Goldpetal Fatms is one of my most favorite places on earth.
Thank you! I’m excited we found it. Annual trip for sure from now on. 🌻🐝