daisies

Daisies are so much more than just a cheerful face in the grass. Forget the neatly trimmed lawns—head to a “pluktuin” (pick-your-own garden) in the Netherlands for a truly sunny day out. Daisies flower from March to October, with a peak in spring and early summer. Armed with a little basket and a pair of scissors, you’ll find yourself surrounded by these happy, white-and-yellow flowers, bobbing in the breeze. Pick flowers that are fully open, and snip or pinch the stem below the flower head, leaving the rosette of leaves on the plant. Daisies grow back slowly, so don’t strip a single plant bare. Try to pick them early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when it is cool. The petals bruise easily, so handle them gently. It’s a wonderfully simple activity—perfect for a giggly afternoon with kids and friends. Just watch out for the bees, who are having their own harvest party!

Once you’re home, let the flower power begin.

Daisies are surprisingly versatile. Their petals have a mild, slightly peppery, grassy flavor, and they’re edible. In a vase, trim the stems, put them in fresh water and change it daily; they last 3 to 5 days. For eating, keep them in a sealed container with a damp paper towel in the fridge and use them within 1 to 2 days. Rinse them gently just before use.

For decoration:

The Classic Posy: Pop a generous handful of daisies into a simple glass jar or a small milk bottle. They look adorable on a kitchen windowsill, a bedside table, or a picnic blanket.
Daisy Chain Crown: You have to do it. Take a stem, make a small slit with your fingernail, thread the next stem through, and repeat. Wear it while sipping iced tea for instant flower-fairy vibes.
Ice Cube Magic: Freeze single daisy heads (or just the petals) in ice cube trays. Drop these into a pitcher of water or lemonade for an instant “wow” factor at your next BBQ.
Confetti & Sprinkle: Gently pull the white petals off a few blooms and scatter them over a cake, a salad, or a tablecloth for a charming, natural confetti.

One Recipe for Daisies (Flowers): Daisy Flower Tea

This is a gentle tea that tastes like a hug from a meadow.

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon fresh daisy petals (white parts only, avoid the green base if you want a milder flavor) or 2 teaspoons dried, 1 cup boiling water, honey (optional).
Instructions: Place the petals in a mug or teapot. Pour the boiling water over them. Steep for 5-7 minutes. Strain (or just leave the floating petals, they’re pretty). Add honey to taste. Enjoy hot, or iced for a refreshing afternoon pick-me-up. Note: Check for allergies, and use only daisies you know haven’t been sprayed with pesticides.

Fruithof De struikrover

fruit, berries, flowers, vegetables, herbs

friesland

Fruithof de Struikrover in Oldeholtpade is a pick-your-own farm growing over 20 types of fruit, mostly berries. The main crops are blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries, along with less common varieties such as tayberries, honeyberries, aronia berries, jostaberries, Japanese wineberries, elderberries, rosehips, gooseberries, quinces, medlars, sea buckthorn and figs. The farm also has flowers for picking, including marigolds, cornflowers and sunflowers. The farm is open for picking from mid-June to mid-September, with the season running on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 09.00 to 17.00. Outside the picking season, the farm is open on Saturdays for buying cuttings, shrubs, seeds and young plants. All produce is grown organically without pesticides.

Tuinderij Amelis’Hof

vegetables, herbs, flowers

utrecht

Tuinderij Amelis’Hof in Bunnik is a historic, one-hectare market garden where you can pick your own flowers and seasonal vegetables. The farm grows around 100 varieties of vegetables, including heritage types like oerbiet (a traditional beetroot), winter broccoli, snijbiet (Swiss chard), spekbonen (flat green beans), pastinaak (parsnip) and aardpeer (Jerusalem artichoke). There are also 25 types of herbs, small fruits and over 150 flower species, such as cornflowers, sweet peas, dahlias and zinnias. The flower field is open from late May until October.

Hanna's Pluktuin

flowers

friesland

At Hanna’s Pluktuin in Makkinga, you pick your own seasonal flowers directly from the field. The farm grows dahlias, zinnias, sunflowers, amaranthus, ornamental tobacco, statice, salvia, scabiosa, fountain grass, calendula, strawflowers, echinacea, yarrow, sea lavender, snapdragons, bishop’s weed, nigella, bronze fennel, phlox, globe amaranth, lion’s tail, marguerites and more. The selection changes through the season. You pay €12.50 for a hand-held bouquet of 20 to 25 stems, which you cut yourself with scissors provided. The farm also sells gift vouchers starting at €10, valid for two years on fresh bouquets, dried flowers and decorative items. Pre-arranged bouquets can be ordered in advance for collection.