Spring is the time of year when the Midwest bursts into bloom. Even on the grayest days, a walk in the woods or a drive through the country will yield a few surprises—a patch of wildflowers here, a field of bluebells there.
And while some people head to the tropics to experience the best of the flora, many Midwesterners head for their own backyards to catch a glimpse of the spring landscape. The prairie landscape is especially well-suited to wildflowers, and Iowa is home to some of the best fields of flowers in the country.
If you’re a flower lover and planning an Iowa getaway in spring, here’s a brief list of places you can find some of the best flower fields in the Hawkeye State.
1. Bloomfield
Bloomfield is home to two of the finest spots to see Iowa’s flower heritage: Kalona Prairie Farms and the West Fork of the Des Moines River. A short drive from each, the fields are the largest located in Iowa and among the largest in the Midwest.
The Kalona Prairie Farms is a 170-acre field of purple prairie clover where you can stroll and enjoy a view of this unique flower species in Iowa. It is among the most picturesque spots where you can take Instagrammable photos with your loved one. They’ll be even more breathtaking if you ordered a spring bouquet to surprise them during your getaway trip in Iowa.
On the other hand, the West Fork of the Des Moines River Nature Preserve is a 184-acre spot along the bank of the river Cedar. It’s the smallest of Iowa’s most gorgeous rivers, so expect some trees—but even those will probably be bursting with purple prairie clover.
2. Blairsburg
Farther south, in northwestern Iowa, you’ll find the Blairsburg flower field, planted on a 100-acre field of alders that face the Wapsipinicon River. The whole thing is part of the city’s 1869 park system, the Blairsburg Windmill, and Page County Museum.
It offers visitors an opportunity to visit one of the few flower fields in the state with amazing blooms that have been grown for centuries.
3. Mt. Pleasant
The Blairsburg and Mt. Pleasant fields are just two of many large flower fields in the state, but Blairsburg is arguably the biggest and best. And if you’re planning a trip this spring, the field is hosting a special event during its “Wildflower Weekend,” where over 35,000 visitors from around the world come out each year to see these fields and enjoy their beauty.
4. Mount Ayr/Tama
This 10-acre field in Mount Ayr is the largest in northeast Iowa and one of the best in the state. Along with the spring tulips that grow in the late winter, you can see many kinds of wildflowers in the spring.
6. Iowa City
You can see the blooms of Iowa’s 4,000-acre Lee County Regional Park, the largest park in the state, from the upper and lower terraces of this 12-acre flower field.
The gardens are free to visit, and most of the flowers are perennial species that grow in the springtime. But the lower terrace contains tall grasses that are planted with spring-blooming flowers from March through mid-May.
Finally, Iowa is also home to a multitude of gardens where different kinds of alluring flowers paint springtime with beauty and captivating fragrances from the blooms. Some of these include Reiman Gardens, Bellevue State Park Butterfly Garden, Scholte Gardens, and Noelridge Park, just to name a few.
All in all, the best flower fields in Iowa tend to all be located on the state’s northeast side, especially near Mount Ayr and Tama.
