Pope Farm Conservancy in Middleton plants acres and acres of sunflowers each spring and waits for August when the more than a half million flowers will bloom. It’s a site to behold and a truly breathtaking experience that makes it perfect for a day trip just outside of Madison.
According to their website, the Pope Farm Conservancy is 105 acres that sits on top of three recessional moraines where three different watersheds come together. A 360 degree panoramic view of Lake Mendota, the Capitol and Madison’s west side can be seen to the east, the Black Earth Creek valley to the North, and the terminal moraine to the South and West.
Though most well-known for their sunflower field, they have six different Prairie Restoration projects and seven different crops. There's also a Native American garden is designed to educate the public about the remarkable contribution made by the Native Americans to agriculture.
The Farm holds a weeklong celebration of the sunflowers - this year it'll be August 12-20. The field is 9 acres and features more than a half million sunflowers that are expected to be in peak bloom at the time.
Not only do you feel like there are sunflowers as far as the eye can see, but the flowers attract tons of interesting insects and birds. There's so much to see and learn here.
The Conservancy is owned by the town of Middleton and there is a non-profit that runs the Sunflower Days event. You can become a member of the Conservancy or help support them - make sure you look for their ambassadors when you head to Sunflower Days.
Parking closes 20 minutes before sunset and evening is by far the busiest time for visitors. If you can plan to be there first thing in the morning, as the sun rises, you'll have a great shot at being one of the few people among the lovely blooms and also have a lovely backdrop for your pictures.
If you're someone who loves to see and visit the sunflowers, the Conservancy would love for you to get involved and volunteer. It takes a lot of work to create the sea of sunflowers and they often put out a call for weeding help. What an awesome way to help make sure the sunflower field is there for everyone to enjoy come August.
