May means tulips in gardens around the world and here at home. The Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields, located at Ouimet Farms, are now open for their 2026 season.
This is the second year the Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields have been located at Ouimet Farms. The fields had a soft opening on Saturday, May 9, just in time for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10.
This year, the pick-your-own fields are blooming because of 250,000 Darwin hybrid bulbs. The bulbs were all cultivated in Canada, so they are better developed to withstand a harsher climate.
Visitors to the tulip fields can get a more aerial view of the colours this season. Sandra Bebbington, who owns and operates the fields with her husband Mike Block, said an observation bridge has been added this year. She said it also gives a great view of the Laurentian Mountains to the north.
Bebbington described the rather cool, wet, and slowly advancing spring season this year as both a good and bad thing for the tulip fields and their place as a visitor destination.
“It was a cold slow start to spring this year but now that the blooms have started, we are hoping the cooler temps will extend the season,” she said.
Bebbington said the fields were busy on Mother’s Day weekend has kept us busy and the upcoming Victoria Day long weekend should also be busy. They are hoping to see lots of visitors on Sunday, May 14 when the May Show Festival is taking place in Vankleek Hill.
The Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields are located at 63 Main Street West (County Road 10) in Vankleek Hill at Ouimet Farms. Information about hours, admission, and the progression of the blooming is available at https://www.vkhtulipfields.com, and https://www.facebook.com/vkhtulipfields.
Photos: James Morgan
Photos: Dodi Morgan
