FAQ
Please read the entire FAQ. It may answer questions you have.
When can we pick flowers?
We open each summer when our flowers are ready to bloom and available for picking. Because our season is weather-dependent, there is no fixed opening date. Please check our website and social media pages for announcements about opening day and upcoming pick dates.
The picking season runs until we are out of flowers. We pick about 3 days a week. Picks are divided into two-hour time slots. You can choose when you want to arrive.
We operate on a reservation system. We limit the number of people per session allowed. We do this to make sure we can keep the "u-pick" experience more personal, which allows for a more private experience, better photo ops and no big crowds. And if you have questions it gives us the opportunity to answer them and spend as much time with you as you would like.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes — all U-Pick visits require advance reservation.
Most of our u-picks are requested privately by returning guests and word of mouth. (So please tell all of your friends, family and co-workers). You can reach out to us via email at anita@BigCovelittlefarm.com or send us a Facebook message to request a specific day and time. Occasionally we will announce a public u-pick. These will be announced a few days in advance. The public u-pick must be reserved through the Ticket Tailor link on our Facebook page or website for the specific date and time listed.
Please reserve one admission per person in your party.
Each time slot is limited to a maximum of 12 pickers to ensure a relaxed and enjoyable experience.
Our limited-capacity is intentional and part of what makes your time here peaceful, personal, and unhurried.
Can I just stop by?
If you do not have a reserved spot we are fully booked or we are closed to visitors. As a small, one-person farm, I carefully plan and prepare for each scheduled group. Drop-in visits make it difficult for me to give my full attention to both the farm work and our guests. Keeping visits by reservation only allows me to create a peaceful, personal, and unhurried experience for everyone.
What if I have a reservation but can no longer make it?
If your group can no longer attend your scheduled u-pick, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance.
Public u-pick reservations also require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice for cancellation in order to receive a refund. (Please allow a few days for refunds to process).
Reservations that are cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, as well as no-shows, are not eligible for a refund.
If fewer people attend than were originally reserved, admission fees for unused spots cannot be refunded. Last-minute cancellations make it difficult for others to book those spots.
If I arrive early will I be able to be first or start picking early? If I am late will I still get the full time to pick?
If you have reserved a time you will receive access to the flowers at the same time as everyone that has scheduled that time slot, there is no need to arrive early. We begin each session with a brief overview of do's and don'ts. If you arrive late you may miss the overview and will still need to be finished when your time ends. It is best to arrive at the beginning of your time slot so you have the whole appointed time to pick.
What will be ready to pick?
It will vary over the season. I do my best to provide a beautiful variety, but availability depends on weather and bloom cycles.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for current bloom updates and photos.
How much does it cost?
The cost for pickers is $20, this includes entry and one bouquet. Each picker can bring one non picker. Pickers will prepay when the time slot is reserved. Entry for the non pickers (counted as feet on the ground, no fee for babies under 1 yr.) will be $15 and will be collected upon arrival. If you pick it, you will need to put it in your bouquet, so keep an eye on little ones and don’t pick a flower and then decide you don't want it. Those that repeatedly pick and ditch good flowers in the field may not be welcome to return.
What do I do when I arrive?
When you arrive, I will be waiting outside to greet you. You will get supplies from me and we'll talk about what's available that day and how to cut the flowers. Then you can head to the garden to create your one of a kind bouquet. I will be out in the garden alongside everyone taking care of the fields and am happy to answer any questions you may have.
What should I bring and wear?
I am used to being outside all day every day so what I wear may be different that what others prefer. I typically wear closed-toed shoes and suggest that you do as well. A lot of people show up in hats, wearing sunscreen and bug spray. If it rained the day before, boots are a good idea. Dress comfortably for you to be outdoors.
Hey, why didn’t you answer my email or Instagram DM or Facebook message?
I am a one person farm, the hubby pitches in when he's not busy with his day job. More times than not I have no clue where I left my phone. I am busy planting, weeding, fertilizing, digging, mulching, trying to update social media, mowing, mulching, dead heading, scheduling pick dates, watching the weather and cleaning up.
Will there be bugs, wasps, bees, and other wiggly squiggly crawling creatures?
Most definitely. You are outside and we cannot control those little critters. They are a part of the outdoors and farm life.
Can I bring my dog?
Sorry but no dogs are allowed at the farm.
What if it rains?
We will stay open for light rain and sprinkling. If it is thundering, lightning and a hard rain/ storm we will not open. If the weather looks bad, we’ll post a cancellation on social media. We will not make the decision to cancel any earlier than the morning of the pick.
About Big Cove little farm
Big Cove little farm is a reservation-only u-pick flower farm. We intentionally keep our groups small.
You won’t find big crowds, long lines, or rushed visits here. Instead, you’ll be part of a small group with plenty of flowers and time to enjoy being outside.
Most of our guests come as a girls night out, church group, date night, book club, or small gathering of friends. We provide bottled water, but some groups bring their own charcuterie or beverages to enjoy while they visit.
This isn’t a big u-pick that brings in hundreds of people every day. It’s a working flower farm.
When you reserve a spot, you’re not just booking time in the flower garden. You’re visiting a working farm with deep local roots. I’m usually out working while you’re here and happy to talk about the flowers, the land, and our house that sits on the property.
Because flowers depend on weather and what’s blooming, most of our U-picks are scheduled privately by returning guests or through word of mouth. If you’d like to plan a visit for your small group (up to 12 guests), email anita@bigcovelittlefarm.com or send me a Facebook message.
Occasionally we post a public U-pick on social media. These are limited to about 12 guests and are usually announced only a few days ahead once we check the weather and see what’s ready to pick.
If you’re looking for a peaceful evening surrounded by flowers, with time to talk, laugh, take photos, and create something beautiful, you’ll feel right at home here.
How It Started
I’ve always loved being outdoors. Weekends, evenings after five just weren’t enough for me.
After many years behind a desk, I decided it was time to get outside and learn something new. I’ve learned a lot and I’m having a blast, even though I work harder than I ever have in my life. I still have a lot to learn and I’m always thinking of new ideas and ways to grow and improve things.
We live on family land that has been in our family since the 1800s. My great-grandfather was a farmer, and his main crop was a peach orchard. Over the years the land has been divided several times and we now have a few acres. It just made sense to do something with the land instead of just cutting the grass.
Flowers felt like the right fit. Like my mother and grandmother, I’ve always loved flowers, especially picking them myself. When I was a kid I would show up with a fistful of dandelions or wild violets to give to my mom.
Our farm sits on King Drake Road, named after my great-grandfather James King Drake. He was a descendant of Revolutionary War soldier John Drake, who came to Madison County in 1807.
Many people called J.K. Drake “King” or “Mr. King.” He was a self-sufficient farmer who raised and grew just about everything. He had his own water source, a blacksmith shop for his mules (the building still stands on the property today), and he raised pigs, chickens, and sheep.
He was best known for his peach orchard, right where the big houses sit today, and for his sweet potatoes. People would come pick peaches, just like picking flowers here today.
It feels good, and pretty special, to still be growing something on land that’s been part of our family for generations.
