BUSHKILL TWP., Pa. — A bucolic farm spanning more than 12 acres may not be much to see right now, but just give it a few months, owner Brandon Krock said.
By the end of July, the fields at 1245 Keller Road will be full of towering, gorgeous sunflowers in picturesque bloom at Fox Summit Farm.
With roughly 440,000 seeds to plant, Krock will open the farm for a second summer, a year after welcoming thousands of guests in a span of about six weeks.
That’s beyond the typical sunflower life cycle, but with seven varieties in the ground and staggered plantings, Krock said the timeline worked like a charm.
“Last year was phenomenal,” Krock said in a phone call Monday, not long after dropping a Facebook post showing field prep underway during Sunday night’s thunderstorms.
(The video loop, of course, was to Warren Zeiders’ song "Ride the Lightning").
“Within the six weeks we were open last year we ended up having a little over 1,200 people come through, and that wasn't counting kids or anything like that,” Krock said.
Kids are welcome at Fox Summit, of course. So, too, are dogs and anything else that falls under the label of “pet-friendly farm.”
“There’s a lot of folks that brought their dogs out, and we actually had a horse farm bring, I believe it was seven horses last year," Krock said.
"So it ended up working out that they were able to ride through all the different paths and stuff that we have. A couple of girls even brought their chickens."
A pick-your-own operation
If it sounds like throwing open the gates and letting visitors roam with dogs and livestock in tow is a bit of a questionable business decision, Krock isn’t too worried.
“Fortunately, everything was pretty good last year," he said. "People were very respectful with the trails that we had cut in.
"I didn't necessarily see that any people kind of went bushwhacking through, or cutting through anything that they shouldn’t have, which was great."
He said he’s hopeful for the same good behavior from visitors this season, with different props out in the field for selfie-taking guests to have fun with.
“We are a pick-your-own sunflower farm,” and the only thing we ask of guests is to clean up after their animals and leave the sunflowers directly behind our props alone and cut elsewhere.Sunflower field owner Brandon Krock
“We are a pick-your-own sunflower farm,” Krock said, and the only thing we ask of guests is to clean up after their animals and leave the sunflowers directly behind our props alone and cut elsewhere.
“That way, for picture purposes, those ones are nice until they’re kind of bloomed out,” he said.
Guests are free to take their own photos or bring their own photographer. But Krock’s girlfriend, who runs Wild Pear Photography, also will be on site again this year.
“A lot of clients used her last year, and she will be available again this year for people to reach out and book her for photo shoots on the property,” Krock said.
“Anyone can bring their own photographer, and other photographers can bring their own clients. I don’t charge anything extra for photographers."
Admission prices also will remain the same, at $5 per adult and free for ages 12 and younger. Pick-your-own sunflowers will be $2 per stem, with bouquet wrapping available at an additional cost.
Food trucks, fireworks and a 5k
With a horde of visitors expected this summer, the one thing Krock won’t change are the sunflower varieties for those seeking that Instagram-worthy photo.
There will be endless rows of golden sunflowers, he said, each featuring different color combinations.
“Last year, we ended up having some very dark red ones and very dark brown ones that were almost black," he said. "Those caught a lot of people off guard because they didn't realize there were even other varieties.
"So I'm bringing those back this year, and I had a few that started off as red in the center and ended up fading out to yellow.”
This year, Krock will begin planting a little bit earlier in the season — in mid-May, he said — with a goal to open around the end of July or beginning of August.
He also has approval from the township to bring food and beverage trucks on site this summer.
“This year, I’ve spoken to a few vineyards already that are looking to be on board for wine events” — primarily Friday nights and weekends, he said.
There will be fireworks on opening night, and Krock also is trying to plan a 5k through the fields, along with another appreciation week for military, first responders and others.
“That will be for any type of first responder like fire and police," he said.
"Any type of medical field, any type of service members, whether they show up in uniform or they’re retired, with identification they’ll get a discount getting in, and then a handful of flowers at no cost.”
Those looking to hold events at the farm can reach out to Krock at 610-217-8150 or drop him an email at Foxsummitfarm@gmail.com.
Operating hours will be 2 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
