strawflower

Oh, the humble, yet utterly delightful, strawflower! If you’ve ever had the pleasure of wandering through a sun-drenched Dutch field dedicated to these beauties, you’ll know exactly the simple joy we’re talking about. Forget your worries for a moment, because picking strawflowers is less about a chore and more about a charming little adventure!

The Pure Pleasure of Picking Your Own!

Imagine this: The gentle hum of bees, the whisper of a breeze, and a kaleidoscope of vibrant colours stretching before you – from brilliant golds and sunny yellows to fiery oranges, soft pinks, and rich reds. You’re in a “pluktuin” (picking garden) in the Netherlands, armed with nothing but a pair of scissors and a wide grin. This isn’t just buying flowers; this is an experience.

Whether you’re going solo for a moment of peaceful mindfulness, sharing giggles with friends, or creating cherished memories with family (little hands are excellent at spotting the perfect bloom!), the fun is in the selecting. You get to scrutinize each unique, papery petal, comparing shades, and deciding which ones will best complement your future bouquet. There’s a wonderful, almost childlike satisfaction in snipping a stem and knowing this vibrant splash of colour is all yours, chosen by you. It’s a delightful way to connect with nature, slow down, and gather a little piece of sunshine to take home.

Bringing the Sunshine Home: Decorating with Strawflowers

The magic of strawflowers, once you’re back in the cozy comfort of your home, truly unfolds. These aren’t your typical fleeting blooms; their unique, papery texture means they dry incredibly well, retaining their brilliant colours for months, even years!

Here are some sunny ideas for decorating with your freshly picked bounty:

Everlasting Bouquets: Simply tie a bunch together with string and hang them upside down in a cool, dry place for a few weeks. Once dried, arrange them in a vase (no water needed!) for a permanent splash of cheer. They’re stunning on their own or mixed with other dried flowers like lavender or dried grasses.
Cheerful Wreaths & Garlands: Their sturdy stems and long-lasting colour make them perfect for crafting. Weave them into a grapevine wreath base for a rustic, vibrant door decoration, or string them into a garland to drape over a mantelpiece or window.
Table Centrepieces: A small, vibrant arrangement of dried strawflowers makes a fantastic, low-maintenance centrepiece for your dining table, adding warmth and colour to any meal.
Gift Embellishments: Tie a few dried strawflowers onto a beautifully wrapped gift instead of a ribbon or bow for a personal, handmade touch that truly stands out.
Shadow Boxes & Wall Art: Press a few of your favourite blooms between heavy books, then arrange them in a shadow box or frame them for a unique piece of botanical art.

A Note on Cocktails & Culinary Use

While the vibrant and beautiful strawflower (specifically Xerochrysum bracteatum or Helichrysum bracteatum) is a true champion in the world of everlasting decoration, it’s important to note that the ornamental varieties you pick for their stunning papery blooms are not typically consumed or used as a direct ingredient in food or drinks. They are best admired for their visual charm and longevity!

However, their bright, cheerful colours are absolutely inspiring! So, let’s mix up a cocktail that captures the sunny spirit of a strawflower, perhaps with a beautiful, non-edible strawflower as a charming garnish, ensuring all consumable ingredients are safe and delicious.

The “Sunny Strawflower Spritz” (Visually Inspired Cocktail)

This cocktail aims for the bright, uplifting colours and mood evoked by a field of strawflowers.

Ingredients:

60 ml Aperol (for the lovely orange hue)
90 ml Prosecco or Cava (for the sparkle)
30 ml Freshly squeezed orange juice (for extra sunshine and flavour)
10 ml Elderflower liqueur or syrup (for a floral hint)
Splash of soda water
Ice
Orange slice or peel, for edible garnish
Garnish: 1-2 small, dried strawflowers (tied to the stem of the glass, or placed delicately next to it, not in the drink)

Instructions:

Fill a large wine glass or a tumbler with ice.
Pour in the Aperol, orange juice, and elderflower liqueur/syrup.
Top with Prosecco (or Cava) and a splash of soda water.
Gently stir to combine.
Garnish with an orange slice or a twist of orange peel.
For that “strawflower touch,” carefully attach a dried strawflower to the rim or stem of the glass (using a tiny clothespin or simply resting it nearby) for a beautiful visual flourish. Remember, it’s just for looking!

So go on, embrace the simple pleasure of picking your own strawflowers. You’ll bring home not just a beautiful bouquet, but a handful of happy memories and a lasting touch of natural beauty!

Tuinderij De Groenteboer Biologische zelfoogsttuin

fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, berries

utrecht

Tuinderij De Groenteboer is an organic self-picking farm and flower garden located in Kamerik, near Woerden, on the grounds of Boerderij De Boerinn. The farm operates on a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model, where participants become ‘shareholders’ to harvest their own produce. The self-picking garden offers approximately 60 different varieties of seasonal organic vegetables, herbs, and small fruits. Throughout the year, visitors can harvest a diverse range of produce: Spring: Spinach, broad beans, snap peas, turnip greens. Summer: Carrots, beets, broccoli, strawberries. Autumn: Parsnip, pumpkin. Winter: Kale, leek. Example weekly harvests might include items like celeriac, lettuce, endive, fennel, New Zealand spinach, and potatoes. Vegetable harvesting is available for approximately 32 weeks, typically from May to December. Adjacent to the vegetable plots, a vibrant organic flower picking garden is open from June to mid-September. Here, visitors can create their own bouquets from a wide array of blooms, including phlox, cornflower, sunflower, rudbeckia, zinnia, aster, poppy, delphinium, snapdragon, strawflower, cosmea, and amaranth (foxtail). Shareholders have weekly access to the flower garden, and non-shareholders can also purchase passes for flower picking.

Hanna's Pluktuin

flowers, herbs, grasses

friesland

Hanna’s Pluktuin is a family-run, sustainable pick-your-own flower garden located in Makkinga, Friesland, Netherlands, at Bercoperweg 53 B, 8423 TR Makkinga. Established in 2023 and expanded in 2024 by Hanna Lemmens-Edema and her family, the garden invites visitors to enjoy a unique outing among meadows. The primary offering is the opportunity for guests to self-pick seasonal flowers. Upon arrival, visitors receive instructions, a pair of scissors, and a bucket, then proceed to select and cut their own bouquet. Bouquets start from €10, with the final price dependent on the type and quantity of flowers chosen.

Pluktuin de Melkweg

flowers, herbs

overijssel

Pluktuin de Melkweg, located in Oud-Bergentheim at Hardenbergerweg 19a, offers a self-service flower-picking experience. Visitors can select from over 40 varieties of flowers, including dahlia, cosmea, zinnia, strawflower, sweet pea, great masterwort, hyssop, dill, yarrow, scabious, sunflower, cornflower, amaranthus, delphinium, ornamental tobacco, coneflower, sea lavender, goldenrod, coreopsis, snapdragon, drumstick flower, marigold, beardtongue, Chinese aster, and African marigold. The garden is currently closed for the season and anticipates reopening in 2026. When open, it operates Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, remaining closed on Sundays. Guests can find scissors in a green garden shed and are encouraged to create varied bouquets. Payment is self-service, available via Tikkie (QR code) or cash, with small bouquets priced at €7.50 and large bouquets at €12.50. Parking is available on the farmyard.

Bloemenpluktuin en Mini-kwekerij Volvelds

flowers

gelderland

Located on the historical vegetable garden of Landgoed Keppel in Laag-Keppel, this farm, run by Marieke and Edward, offers a delightful self-picking experience alongside a mini-nursery and artisan workshop. The highlight for visitors is the self-picking flower garden, where one can gather a vibrant selection of cut flowers. These include zinnia, cosmos, scabiosa, dahlia, cornflower, snapdragon, amaranth, statice, strawflower, sunflower, and an expanding variety of flowering perennials. All plants are cultivated without pesticides, using organic potting soil. Additionally, in spring (starting April) and autumn, young plants of both annual and perennial flowers and herbs are available for purchase.

de Warmoes

fruit, vegetables, flowers, berries

gelderland

De Warmoes is a historical market garden located in Lent, near Nijmegen, dedicated to preserving and sharing traditional market gardening knowledge. This non-profit foundation cultivates over a hundred different vegetable varieties year-round, employing sustainable and circular methods without pesticides, while also fostering biodiversity. Visitors are welcome to harvest their own produce directly from the fields during the harvest season. The self-picking options, which are clearly marked, include a diverse range of vegetables such as Swiss chard (warmoes), Lent white cucumber, winter purslane, root parsley, sorrel, rue, leaf mustard, turnip greens, lettuce, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, and eggplants. Fruits available for self-picking or from the orchard include plums, apples, pears, cherries, mirabelles, medlars, quinces, mulberries, morello cherries, walnuts, grapes, strawberries, and various types of berries and raspberries. Additionally, there is a flower-picking garden where guests can gather their own bouquets of typical farm flowers like dahlias, zinnias, coneflowers, drumstick flowers, sea lavender, everlasting flowers, delphiniums, and summer asters.

Flora Marita

flowers

overijssel

Floramarita is a self-picking garden located in Genne, near Hasselt, the Netherlands. The garden offers visitors the opportunity to pick their own summer flowers to create a custom bouquet, typically consisting of 20-25 stems. The farm is committed to sustainable practices, growing flowers without artificial fertilizers or pesticides, which benefits the soil and ensures locally sourced blooms. The experience at Floramarita extends beyond picking; guests can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and a “Combideal” that includes picking flowers, having them skillfully arranged into a beautiful bouquet by the owner, Marita, and savoring homemade cake (often walnut-caramel, made with walnuts from the farm’s own trees) with coffee or tea.