RALEIGH, N.C. – The popular sunflower field at Dorothea Dix Park is starting to bloom. During peak bloom, park officials expect more than 100,000 people stop by to check them out.
Nestled below the Raleigh skyline, there are bright yellow sunflowers as far as the eye can see.
Cheryl McArthur is from Ohio and visited the park on Friday with her sister, Cassandra Jones.
“We're in town for our 41st annual family reunion. And when we looked up things to do in Raleigh, it came up to go see the sunflowers in bloom,” McArthur said.
“And for me, the first thing I noticed is it was very peaceful, calming,” Jones said.
The sunflower field at Dix Park has become a popular destination over the years.
“We saw so many photos of people taking pictures of themselves and posting. We wanted to experience this too,” Mary Sharitz, who lives in Zebulon, said.
Whether the visitors are from across the country or are local to the area people are finally seeing what the big deal is all about.
“I have lived here for 30 some years and I have not been able to be here when they were in full bloom. I have either been too early or too late,” Sharitz said.
Park officials say 230,000 seeds were planted this year across five acres.
Signs throughout the field offer fun facts for visitors. Accessible trails laid with mats are new this year, offering an easier way to navigate the field.
It’s an experience for people of all ages, that can be summed up in one word.
"Beautiful. What can I say? It's beautiful,” Sharitz said.
The sunflower field at Dix Park is free to visit and open seven days a week from dawn to dusk.
On Fridays and Saturdays, now through July 22, there will be food trucks for visitors to enjoy during peak bloom.
On Saturday July 22, there will be live acoustic music during the evening.