Ted and Kris Grinter's Sunflower Farm in Leavenworth County has become a phenomena. Although Kansas has a great many sunflower fields, those fields are primarily in central and western Kansas. These fields are in the far eastern part of the state (near the population centers) and the Grinter family let the public come into the fields and take photos. A great many people want to have their photos taken with the sunflowers. Professional photographers even schedule sessions here.
Sunflowers begin their blooming with the flowers following the sun as it crosses the sky. As the seeds grow heavier, the flower heads start to droop and finally just hang down, with the majority of them facing the east. The photo at the top of this page was taken when the flowers were several days past their best, but there were still several hundred people in the fields taking photos on a Thursday evening. The seeds continued to swell and the flower heads turned black in the next few weeks, But storms made the flowers look pretty ragged before then.
For the best photography, come on as sunny day in the first couple of hours after sunrise or before sunset. The peak time for the flowers changes each year. It usually is in late August or early September and the fields look their best for about two weeks.
Sunflower General is a local goods & bake shop. The Grinters opened Sunflower General starting the last weekend in August 2020, 9AM - 5PM. To provide distancing that is not available in their farmhouse, they will use an "inside/outside" space and will not open when there is rain. If they have them, we recommend the peanut butter filled chocolate chip cookies!
Thousands of people visit the sunflower farm and at the peak, it is recommended that you go in the daytime on a week day for the best experience.
Be sure to respect the farm and the neighbors. Please do not go onto other property and carry out your trash.
The Grinters plant their sunflowers in July and the 2021 sunflower bloom is expected to be about the first weekend in September. To check on the flowers' progress in 2021, visit the Grinter Farms Facebook Page.
