Day Trips: Sunny Hill Flower Farm, Luling

photos by Gerald E. McLeod

Sunny Hill Flower Farm sits on an idyllic high point between Lockhart and Luling, surrounded by woods and pastures. A well-tended garden of greenery with splashes of floral color occupies a corner of the property.

On Friday afternoons from 5pm to 7pm, Kathryn Deladurantey opens her garden for pick-your-own flower harvesting. The flower-picking season goes from late April into July, depending on the weather.

“There is nothing like slowing down and cutting a bouquet of flowers,” Kathryn said as she handed my wife and me a pair of clippers and large plastic cup to fill with fresh-cut flowers.

To start, Kathryn showed us how to cut at the bottom of the stem to give us plenty of stalk, and to encourage the plant to send up more shoots.

Kathryn was introduced to growing flowers by her grandmother and mother, both avid gardeners. She teaches flower arranging at workshops around the Hill Country.

About three years ago she started the flower farm on a corner of her family’s ranch. Primarily she does bouquets for weddings and events. Last year was the first time she opened the garden to pick-your-own guests.

Every year she adds more kinds of flowers to the garden. This year she’s up to around 20 varieties. Visitors to the farm come away with a bouquet unlike anything they’ll find in a grocery store.

On May 16 and 17, the farm sponsors Market at the Farm. It’s an open house with food vendors, music, games, and agricultural vendors, all for $10 a car. Of course, there will be pick-your-own flowers.

Sunny Hill Flower Farm is at 399 Pasture Rd. Technically it’s in Luling, but from Austin you have to drive past the barbecue joints in Lockhart to get there. About an hour south of Austin, most map apps will guide you to the gate. To make a reservation, go to www.sunny-hill-flower-farm.com.

1,752nd in a series. Everywhere is a day trip from somewhere: Follow “Day Trips & Beyond,” a travel blog, at austinchronicle.com/daily/travel.