Amazing DarJane’s Sunflower Garden

March 2, 2020 Community Billboard

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet- Just a few minutes on a jeepney ride from this capital town, one can find the wonders of a sunflower plantation-DarJane’s Garden.

The sunflower garden is located at KM12 Shilan (La Trinidad). It is owned by a couple- Dario and Jane Montes.

Daily hundreds visit the place since it opened to the public weeks ago. According to Dario Montes, the sunflowers were not originally intended for tourist attraction, it was meant to be sold for Valentine’s Day.

But due to cold weather, the sunflowers did not reached its full growth before Valentine’s Day, that’s why they (Montes) thought of an alternative way and transformed it into farm tourism destination.

Planning to visit the place, a P 120 fee is charge per tourist. A visitor can have unlimited time of photo opportunities (selfies) plus snack— pandesal, boiled kamote and savor the locally produced coffee Arabica.

The DarJane’s Garden also sells fresh organic highland vegetables – sayote, tomatoes, carrots, cabbages and many more. Sunflowers are also available for sale.

A discounted price of P100 is applied to students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWD), provided they bring along with them their IDs. Children are free of charge.

Due to the limited lifespan of sunflowers, Dario and his family plan to have another flower farm near the current location of the DarJane’s Garden, “Malalanta po, kaya may plan kami na kailangan pag tinuloy namin may kasunod” said Dario adding a greenhouse will be built to protect the flower from inclement weather.

To support government tourism efforts and boost local opportunities, the plan includes the construction of a View Deck equipped with telescopes, wherein tourists can see the panoramic formation of clouds when viewing the scenic Mt. Pulag. “Hindi lang sunflowers ang makikita dun, may mga ibang gulay din surprise , at ang pinakamaganda doon, yung sunrise, makikita doon ang Mt. Pulag,” Dario said. The “new” Garden is expected to open on April in time for the Holy Week.

Shayne Monje/UB Intern