Sunflower Fields at Von Bergen’s Country Market

As the season is winding down, all things that summer brings are at an end. I’m sure they were fun and you got lots of great pictures. But vacations, weekend getaways, road trips, graduation celebrations, barbecues, parties, and holiday breaks are…a lot! Fall is coming but we’re not quite there yet. What you do? After all the hoopla summer brings, you might need to take a breather from the city. Let’s take it slow and enjoy the (underestimated) sights at a sunflower farm in Hebron, Illinois.

I visited Von Bergen’s Country Market in September of 2023, to get the last sights of sunflowers before the big harvest. Despite still being able to catch sunflowers for days, I actually was at the tail-end of the season. Von Bergen’s sunflower season actually begins in July through September, so I’d recommend coming in earlier.

Von Bergen’s Country Market: A Late-Season Visit

And if that warning is good enough, how about the pictures below? These were essentially the first sunflower fields I saw. Which didn’t feel good after a 90 minute drive. With the strong sun already beaming on me, I feared it was too late in the season. Funnily enough, it didn’t appear as though I was the only one sad about it. The wilted and sunken sunflower heads somehow looked emotional. The darkened sunflower heads as if they’re hiding something. Since the sunflowers planted in rows, I’m seeing lines of soldiers in defeat. Losing their battle with the summer heat.

All this despite their stalks still being tall and strong. Leaves turning yellow, wilted. Not what I was expecting to see approaching in September. I kept walking and found still-wilted rows of sunflower but less so. This batch of sunflowers not quite dead. And looked like they were, gracefully, taking a final bow.

Last Burst of Color Before the Fade

Beyond sunflowers, they also had corn fields and colorful zinnias for that splash of summer. Little poms poms cheering me on as I passed through. And unlike those dying sunflowers, which I would swear had faces, these zinnias were more like anonymous crowds of strangers. Although cheerful and bright, were also showing signs the end was nigh.

Short and bushy, these flowers were fun to walk through (carefully!) and I picked a few of these. A lively little souvenir for the week. Looking back at these pictures, I can see the spots left behind by previous visitors. Little patches of shadows filling the hollows, the only darkness in the colorful field.

Eyes to the Sun, Camera in hand

Once passing the zinnias, I got to the main attraction. Finally! Bright, lively sunflowers giving me the chance to take a breath. Different sizes, heads obediently facing the light. Where the dying ones felt like faces, these living sunflowers appeared to turn into individual eyes. All staring back at you.

And Von Bergen’s know what they’re doing, random props to get the perfect photo op. Like a rowboat, of course. It strangely fits an aesthetic. The boat is up a few steps and from there you see the fields overhead and into the distance. You can also see the agricultural buildings. Given I arrived at the end of the sunflower season, I only ran into a few people. I’m curious how busy it gets as crowds can make photographing a bit challenging. Unless you’re looking to people watch.

Quiet Moments in the Sunflower Fields in Hebron, IL

I knelt down to get a different shot after so many sunflowers, the similar shots I took with only a slight difference can be maddening. I mentioned this in my post, Searching for the Canal Street Bridge in Chinatown Chicago. But the urge is there as you notice little differences and how it can make your shot look different despite being one of several shots of a sunflower field.

A Hidden View Between the Stalks

Balancing on my ankles, yes I got stares from my own group, I was surprised to see such thick, purple roots above the ground. Aiming for a straight view into eternity in these maize plants, I wished these turned out a bit more crisp. Take that as a challenge if you visit a corn field. But I loved this view, a whole other world.

This shot looks like you’re hiding in the shade under the leaves with pops of sun somehow still slicing through.

A faux outhouse was a more natural prop to the sunflower fields. The table and boat are great for groups though. And there was a giant wooden chair (Adirondack to be exact), that made you feel like a kid again since it was pretty large.

A few more shots of anything that stood out to me, including a random blade of reed grass, and I came to an end. Of course, my favorite part of visiting farms are the markets themselves. Where despite all the farm fresh fruits, my favorites are still the pastries (including apple cider donuts). And apple cider itself was delicious.

But the ride home was pleasant with my little souvenirs in the back.