CUMMING, Iowa — A true sign of spring is when tulips are in full bloom, and Wilson’s Orchard and Farm in Cumming is celebrating the season with its annual Tulip Festival.

The festival kicked off this weekend with hundreds enjoying the spring-like weather in the fields of colorful tulips.

Guests can visit the tulip field and even pick their own tulips. New this year is a Bouquet Bar inside the Farm Market, where pre-made bouquets are also available or guests can make their own bouquet from scratch at the bar.

“It’s such a great feeling because you spend the winter all hunkered in and it’s cold and you don’t want to go outside, and then you get a chance to go outside and the weather is nice, tulips are blooming, and everything is great in life again,” said Paul Rasch, the owner of Wilson’s Orchard and Farm.

The Tulip Festival comes at an exciting time for Wilson’s Orchard, because they recently opened the Play Barn.

Rasch said the play barn was originally in Greenfield, Iowa. Before the devastating tornado ripped through town last year, his team was able to deconstruct the barn, and has now reconstructed it on their farm.

In a Facebook post announcing the opening of the Play Barn, Wilson’s Orchard wrote, “By reusing and recycling this material, we’re not only preserving our Midwestern heritage but also contributing to a greener future. Incorporating reclaimed barn wood into our structures helps protect Iowa’s rural landscape and reduce waste.”

The Play Barn is a three-story playground featuring climbing walls, a corn crib, and a 60-foot fast slide for children ages 3 to 16.

Aside from tulips blooming, Rasch said their orchard is also in full bloom. This is a fleeting annual event that lasts around three days, triggered by the end of winter dormancy. Rasch said it’s rare for apples and tulips to be in bloom at the same time. Guests are welcome to hike down the two mile stretch to the orchard to see the 15-acres of apple tress in bloom.

Farm admission costs $5, which will allow guests to stroll through the tulip fields. To pick a dozen tulips there’s an additional $18 charge. Pre-made bouquets without tulips cost $15 at the Bouquet Bar. Guests who choose to make their own bouquet at the bar can expect each flower to be priced per stem. The Play Barn admission costs $6.

Wilson’s Orchard and Farm is open 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. on weekends and 11 a.m. through 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursday, and Fridays. They’re located at 3201 15th Avenue in Cumming.