Hey there fellow people of the world.
I will be traveling with my girlfriend through Europe(U.K., France, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark) from end of June 2017 until mid July.
My girlfriend loves sunflowers. And I was thinking if I could find a beautiful field of sunflowers- then I would propose to her.
Any idea?
FYI the planned route is London, Axnoller for a wedding (edited), Paris, Versailles, Brugge, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Copenhagen.
Thank you great people
Anoxoler
Anoxoler?
Sunflowers like it hot and sunny, so the south of France, yes. Northern France less likely and I'm not sure they would grow in Copenhagen - too cold.
You are going to have to get well out of city centres to find what you are looking for, so play it by ear and seize the opportunity if you see any, but have a backup plan!
Good luck !
What a cool idea!
If the agricultural fields of sunflowers don't pan out, you might plan a visit to the National Botanical Garden in Meise (just outside Brussels). They will have sunflowers and other pretty things.
Other countries on your list might also have good gardens that might be a proper setting :-)
Or possibly the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, south of Amsterdam. Again, a controlled environment, not a field.
June and early July is early - perhaps the only fields will be in the eastern Loire Valley and Provence.
You'll find what you're looking for in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
No expert, but June/July might be a bit early for max flowering.
If that doesn't work for you, check out the Grinter Sunflower Farm sunflower farm in Leavenworth County Kansas. Its become a popular tourist destination.
Hi Zachary, what a lovely and romantic idea! I don't know about a field of sunflowers but there's a pretty little park behind Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris that might do the trick. Maybe you could get a small bouquet of sunflowers to give her with the ring. So sweet! Good luck! :)
I remember seeing a lot of sunflower (and also rapeseed) fields under cultivation while driving from Seville to Granada, Spain. I forget whether there were fences along the road to prevent animals (and humans) from damaging the money crop of the farmer. Of course these were not near major cities, they were out in the middle of nowhere.
Maybe the best you can do is a botanical garden. But it's a tossup whether they planted (because it's an Annual ... ) any and whether they are in bloom. I'd mention that Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Paris have fairly easy to get to botanical gardens. It's worth noting that there are plants that can live outdoors in London that won't survive winters around New York City. It's that much warmer.
Google "Sunflower Provence" and you'll be happy. July seems about right. Your Northern itinerary might not lend itself to Sunflowers.
To clear up ideas, yes sunflower fields can be found in northern France (we had them near in-laws' house) but they are in the countryside, a cash crop, and bloom in August. So the botanical gardens sound lovely.
You certainly will be too early for sunflowers in the UK - they aren't mature until the autumn. They are grown commercially as far north as Lincolnshire.
Try Monet's house in Giverny for sunflowers and waterlilies. It's about 1.5 hours outside Paris. If your fiancee is a Monet fan it could be a winner.
We did a hot air balloon ride over the Loire valley at the end of July and it was all sunflowers. Absolutely stunning.
I recall seeing the Tour de France riders pedaling through fields of sunflowers in the south of France (they were on the road of course, not literally in the field)! I am not sure what stage it wS, but probably mid-July.
Surrounded by Sunflowers: http://luxeadventuretraveler.com/surrounded-by-sunflowers/
Lavender & Sunflowers of Provence: http://www.expressionsholidays.co.uk/Featured-Holidays/Lavender-and-Sunflower-fields-of-Provence/
Enjoy your trip & good luck.
The further south you go, the earlier they will bloom. I'd focus on Provence.
Check out this sight, it lists a number of places where fields of sunflowers are located:
