Sunflower bloom at Hana Field (by Tanaka Farms)
DETAILS:
Location: 427 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
NOTE: Hana Field is NOT on the grounds of Tanaka Farms. It’s about 15 minutes northwest of Tanaka Farms, depending on traffic.
Hours of Operation:
Currently open on weekends by online reservation only via their website. Hours can also vary by day, but typically 10AM to 6PM. Please see their website below under “resources” for availability & current schedule.
Parking: Free parking lot available on site.
Cost: $5 general admission. (U-pick sunflowers is not apart of the general admission fee)
$15 U-Pick sunflowers (quantity of 10 sunflowers, including holding sleeve)
$20 U-Pick sunflowers (quantity of 15 sunflowers, including keepsake holding cup)
Time Commitment: 1 hour.
MISC.
Given that this is the first year that Tanaka Farms has grown sunflowers, the duration of the season is currently unknown. They hope the sunflowers will continue to bloom throughout most of the summer until they switch over to their pumpkin patch season in the fall. Again, please see their website below under “resources” for current info.
General admission is technically good for 1hr. But no one is really enforcing this time limit. Also, you’re most likely not going to feel the need to stay longer than an hour.
If you plan on picking sunflowers, you’ll need to bring your own trimming tools. Otherwise, you’ll have to purchase one at the gift shop. They don’t offer complimentary tools.
Only service dogs allowed.
Gift shop and basic refreshments (water, soda, popcorn, etc) available for purchase.
Pre-cut sunflower bouquets also available for purchase.
Tanaka Farms is the grand legacy of its eponymous Japanese-American family who can trace their agricultural roots all the way back to the 1920s. A multi-generational family venture, Tanaka Farms moved to its current location in Irvine in 1988. Today, the 30 acre property is the only family-operated farm in the area that offers educational & U-Pick tours. While the backbone of Tanaka Farms has always been its strawberry yield, Tanaka family has always made sure to innovate its brand in order to stay as viable as possible. Hence the creation of its first ever sunflower bloom at Hana Field.
Ironically, while I absolutely adore sunflower seeds, I never really associated this snack with the flower itself. So to view a never-ending sea of its giant yellow progenitors for the first time was truly a sight to behold. The amount of varietals was also stunning. At Hana Field alone, there were at least seven different types represented, covering a vast array of shapes, sizes, and even color! (the “Moulin Rouge” & “Red Sun” varietals were blackish-red in color). Although each separate bloom cycle only lasts for a couple of weeks, each sunflower plant is capable of growing branches to sustain multiple blooms. In addition, Hana Field also strategically rotates growing plots around the property which will hopefully promote an ongoing sunflower bloom throughout the summer. Since this is their first attempt at sunflower production, a lot of variables are still up in the air which means only time will tell how well or not this particular crop does. But based on its initial yield, its seems like a very promising future!
RESOURCES:
Tanaka Farms website.
