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If you haven’t found them already, make sure to go see the spectacular ribbon of yellow sweeping through Flowers Field at Dorothea Dix Park. The story behind the wave of daffodils is as unexpected as the blooms themselves.

Dix Park is known for some stunning surprises - like that secret garden of sunflowers for example. To keep the wonders coming, the horticulture team with Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources dreamed up the idea of planting a hidden swath of spring bulbs that would emerge through the middle of the field winding towards the Raleigh skyline. To make this dream a reality, Raleigh Parks commissioned a special bulb-planting machine.

The machine, designed in Holland, can automatically plant thousands of bulbs in a matter of minutes leaving the field seemingly undisturbed. Here’s how it works: As the bulb-planting machine is pulled behind a tractor, two blades slice open and lift-up the turf. The bulbs move down through a funnel into the open row in the ground. As the machine rolls forward, the grass is closed back over the newly laid bulbs.

On a sunny day in November 2018, Brent and Becky's Bulbs arrived with their machine from Gloucester, Virginia and the Raleigh Parks crew helped fill the hopper with bulbs as the tractor made its way through the field. By mid-day the project was complete and a meandering path of 50,000 daffodils were planted!

A mere three months later the first blooms began to appear in the Flowers Field. Now is the perfect time to head out to Dorothea Dix Park to experience the trail of daffodils in all their glory. 

Daffodils - Know Before You Go: 

Updated March, 1 2022

• Visitors are welcome to visit the daffodils seven days-a-week, from dawn until dusk.
• Please stay on the grass paths in the field and keep children and pets from straying into the daffodils.
• Please do not pick the flowers! 
• Please keep your pup (or other pets) on-leash and pick up after them.
• To see the daffodils up close, walking up and down hills, in grass and on uneven surfaces will be necessary. We recommend closed-toe shoes.
• Port-a-johns are the only restroom available near the daffodils. Indoor restrooms are available in the Chapel Event Center during visitor hours.
• The Flower Cottage is operated by the Dix Park Conservancy and is not open to the public.
• NC Department of Health and Human Services employees work on the campus Monday -Friday. Please be respectful of their working environment and avoid all buildings and DHHS parking areas during business hours. 

*Professional photographers are welcome to have sessions at the park, however, all commercial film or photography taking place in a City of Raleigh Park requires a permit. You can apply for an annual film permit directly through the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department. This is a one year permit and covers all City of Raleigh Parks. To apply for the permit, please contact Kathryn Gebhardt with the Raleigh Parks at 919-996-4510 or kathryn.gebhardt@raleighnc.gov. 

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Location: Flowers Field at Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh, NC 27603

About Dorothea Dix Park
Dorothea Dix Park is the site of one of the most exciting new park projects in America. The 308-acre site blends historic architecture and rich landscapes into a unique destination in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. The effort to create Dorothea Dix Park is a public-private partnership between the City of Raleigh and Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy. The City owns and operates Dorothea Dix Park. The Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to support the City in its efforts, serve as its philanthropic partner, and help ensure the creation and long-term success of Dorothea Dix Park.