Buttonwood Farms Sunflowers for Wishes

One of several fields of sunflowers at Buttonwood Farms, Griswold, CT.

One of the most beautiful events in my home state of Connecticut is Buttonwood Farms Sunflowers for Wishes held at the end of each July.  

With 14 acres of sunflowers, Buttonwood Farm has brought the title of “Sunflower Capital of New England” to the town of Griswold, at least that is what the sign erected at the crossroad states. There are three fields of the stunning flowers on which you can feast your eyes and soul.

Once you park, you can easily walk to the primary field and submerge yourself in blooms.  There are paths you may walk around and through this first field. There is also a little hill standing above the field which allows for pictures of the entire field.  Across the street there is another field in which you can pay to pick your own sunflowers. The final field is not admissible, although many people briefly park to take photos from afar. 

After you take in the thousands of blooms, head over to the ice cream stand where they serve over fifty flavors of home made, small batch, ice cream. My favorite is sunflower ice cream, which is available only during the festival. This year, I got an insider tip from a man who lives close by; he claims their Purple Cow flavor, a black raspberry concoction, is amazing.  

Sunflower against the sky.

One of the most special aspects of this event is Buttonwood’s collaboration with Make a Wish Foundation of Connecticut. Proceeds from two weekends of countless visitors totalled a donation of over $102,000 in 2024. There are generally t-shirts, ice cream, sunflowers,  and other items you can purchase to help support Make a Wish Foundation of Connecticut.  

After the festival is over, Buttonwood opens up the fields to their cows who devour the blooms; I have not ever been for the releasing of the cows, but I have seen videos from previous years.  

For more information, head to Buttonwood’s website.