Visited on April 25, 2026
Nothing quite makes a house a home like a vase of flowers. There’s just something special about the way the colorful blooms light up a space and bring warmth. They’re one of those little things in life that make me so grateful to be alive.
I have toyed with the idea of growing my own flowers, but I’m seriously inept at gardening. My sweet grandfather-in-law, who was a master gardener, tried to help me before he passed, but it was no use. I’m cursed with a black thumb!
Lucky for me, there are farms all over New England that offer pick your own flower events. One of those farms, offering tulip picking until May 8th, is Cross Street Flower Farm at 4 Jacobs Lane in Norwell, MA.
I set out to pick myself a gorgeous bouquet on the farm’s opening weekend for tulip picking.
When we got to the farm there were parking attendants out front directing cars. The parking situation is noted on the farm’s website as being limited. It’s also quiet a bumpy experience! We had to pull off the road into spots on the grass in front of the farm. If it gets very busy, they direct cars to park at the YMCA, which is next door and just a short walk away. If you have mobility concerns, it may be best to park at the YMCA regardless of how busy it is or have someone drop you off at the farm’s entrance so you don’t have to navigate the grassy/rocky terrain.
After parking, my sister and I walked up to the farm to check in. We were greeted by a lovely employee who found my name on the check in list and gave me a wrist band. I purchased my ticket ahead of time on their website and planned to purchase a companion ticket (which does not sell out) for my sister on the day we came.
The employee kindly explained the tulip picking process. I was surprised to learn that we wouldn’t be cutting the flowers. Instead, you pick the tulips by pulling them out of the ground, bulb and all! The farm composts the bulb and by pulling them whole, it makes it easier for them to reuse the field for the next year’s tulips.
The employee also mentioned that it’s best to pick flowers that are primarily green with just a bit of color on the top and not yet bloomed. This allows you to enjoy your bouquet of tulips for longer!
After getting the rundown on the picking process, we walked to another stand to purchase the companion ticket for my sister. This would allow her to accompany me in the field while I picked the flowers. My ticket was $40 and the companion ticket was $10. If you pick more than 15 stems, each additional flower is $1.50.
Next, we walked down a path to a table with yellow buckets surrounding it. A very friendly young man told us to pick a bucket and he explained again how to pick the tulips.
I also noticed Porta-Potties in this area, which is a nice offering! I didn’t expect there to be a bathroom for guests.
After grabbing our buckets, we made our way down another dirt path to the tulip fields. Despite the gloomy weather, I was buzzing with excitement to get started! To my even further excitement, the sun dropped by to say hello while we picked!
Once at the field, we were greeted by another knowledgeable and kind employee who explained that each tulip row was labeled. She told us how to pick the tulips and let us know that due to the recent chilly weather it could be difficult to pull some bulbs out of the ground. She was around for the entire time we were picking flowers, which was nice. I always felt like if we had questions we could easily flag her down for assistance.
The field is not massive or overwhelming. It is moderately sized and easy to navigate, so I am impressed by how many tulips they were able to plant in the area!
There were a few groups in the fields with us, but it never felt overly crowded. The field had enough tulips in every color, so we didn’t feel like we had to wait for people to move out of the way so we could pick a certain color. There was one section of the field, that was more bloomed, where someone was having a photoshoot, but before we left they headed out, so we took a closer look at those flowers later. The booking time slots are 30 minutes, so people come and go pretty frequently.
Picking the flowers is very easy. I thought it would be tough to pull the flower and bulb up, but there is hardly any resistance. A child or someone with limited strength can pick the tulips with ease. We only had one tough flower and it ended up breaking off from the bulb. The employee told us not to worry as they would till the field at the end of the season so that bulb would get ripped up eventually.
Once we picked 15 tulips, we headed to the check out tents back near the tables where we got our buckets. The two employees there counted our flowers. I ended up grabbing 16, so I paid $1.59 (including tax) for the extra stem.
Next, we took our bucket to another couple of tents. Under the first tent, employees cut the bulbs off the flowers. This is how the farm collects the bulbs to compost.
Under the next tent, an employee wrapped the tulips in brown paper and presented the finished bouquet to me! Check out the YouTube video I posted on my experience to see the cutting and wrapping process!
Before we left, we stopped into the barn store. It was rustic and very aesthetically pleasing.
I’m so happy with my bouquet! It bloomed beautifully the next day and has continued to bloom in the following days.
This experience ranked high in most rating categories!
Sensory and Accessibility Aspects
Noise 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There was country music on a low volume playing up near the check out tents. “Dixieland Delight” by Alabama was playing and it added to the rustic vibes of the experience. I felt a little misty eyed as my sister and I sat there swaying to the music, watching the beautifully colored flowers we just picked while spending quality time together get wrapped up. It was one of those “life is such an awesome experience” moments. Hopefully, you know what I mean by that feeling!
The fields were quiet and everyone spoke at a normal volume.
Crowds 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We never felt like the farm was overwhelmingly busy. There were certainly people there, but there’s enough space to spread out and have your own personal bubble.
There are also enough of each type/color of tulip where you don’t feel like you have to wait on someone to move so you can pick the color they are picking.
It could get a little tight in the barn shop if there were more people, but when we visited we could navigate it easily.
I think the 30 minute time block helps mitigate overcrowding effectively.
Smells 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There were no noticeable smells. Tulips aren’t an overly fragrant flower, so you can’t really smell anything on the farm. It smells slightly of dirt, but that’s to be expected, and it isn’t overwhelming.
Lighting 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The lighting while picking is subject to the weather since you’re outside. If you’re sensitive to bright light, I suggest wearing dark sunglasses. I gave a 5/5 because the barn lighting was so lovely. It’s lit with warm Edison bulbs and natural light from the windows and door. No cool white LEDs anywhere! 🎉 The barn shop lighting gives a warm and cozy vibe.
Temperature ?/5
This is a tough one to rate. On the day we went, 5/5, but it’s subject to change based on the weather when you go. I didn’t see an A/C or heater in the barn store (I wasn’t really looking so there could very well be one), so that area has the potential to be hot or cold depending on weather, too. If you are temperature sensitive, dress for the weather with layers and wear a baseball cap to shield your face from the sun.
Spots for Decompressing 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is so much space on the farm that you’re almost guaranteed to find a quiet spot to decompress. The back corner/last row of the field was the quietest after the photo shoot folks headed out. The store was tight, so I don’t recommend decompressing there unless there is no one else shopping.
Accessibility 1/5 ⭐️
This is the case for every farm I’ve been to, so this is not a reflection of this farm specifically. For years, my mom has been unable to pick apples because we can’t find any handicap accessible farms. If you know of any, please leave a comment!
The reason for my score is that the primary activity of picking tulips requires navigating uneven ground and terrain, as well as rows of flowers that may not be able to fit a scooter or wheelchair between them. In order to pick the flowers you also have to bend, so those with limited mobility may be unable to do so.
There is no handicap accessible Porta-Potty, just two standard ones.
The barn store has a rock incline with a mat over it, so it may be possible for someone to push a wheelchair or drive a scooter in. The store has tight corners though, which could make navigating on a mobility device difficult.
The parking situation would be tough for a handicapped person to navigate. If you have mobility concerns, I would recommend parking at the YMCA, or having someone drop you off at the farm entrance.
Restroom Rundown 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The restroom is two porta-potties. The middle of the road score is only because there is no handicap accessible porta-potty. I’m very impressed there are restrooms at all! I think it’s very thoughtful to have them for their guests.
General Review-y Aspects
Pricing 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The price for one person to pick 15 tulips in a 30 minute block is $40. For companion tickets, so multiple people can accompany the tulip picker, it is $10 per ticket. For any additional tulips above 15, it is $1.50 per tulip. I think the base ticket price is a little steep for what you get. However, upon researching bouquets of tulips, the average price for 15 stems is between $50 and $70, making the $40 price point reasonable. With this in mind, the rating is not a reflection of the farm’s pricing, but rather the value of the activity for the set price.
Atmosphere 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The tulip farm was something out of Better Homes and Gardens. It was truly magical for a flower lover like me. Picking the flowers was a rustic experience. My sister said she felt like we were in the “olden days,” in the best way possible. The barn store is rustic and cozy. Each display is artfully crafted as well. You can really tell that the owner’s take pride in their business.
Customer Service 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Every staff member we interacted with was so kind and knowledgable. It feels like they truly care about ensuring that guests have a good experience. From the employees greeting us, to the young men preparing the flowers, every person was friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy their job.
Location/Parking 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The parking situation is rocky (literally!), but the parking attendants are very helpful and their guidance made the experience less stressful. According to the farm’s website, the attendants are only there on the weekends. I think it’s great that they anticipate their customer’s needs by having parking attendants on the weekends when the farm is at its busiest and by offering overflow parking at the YMCA next door.
TLDR Ratings
Overall Rating – 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sensory Rating – 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (weather dependent)
Accessibility Rating – 1/5 ⭐️ (not the farm’s fault)
✨ Highlight
The staff is excellent and made us feel so welcome
😖 Lowlight
The parking situation
Recommendations for Visiting
- Be prepared for the weather with layers, a hat, a poncho (not an umbrella unless you’re not carrying the tulip bucket), sunglasses, water and sunscreen.
- Wear closed toed shoes.
- Consider leaving your purse in the car or wearing a cross body bag or fanny pack. That way, you can bend to pick tulips and hold your bucket without having to worry about keeping your purse off the dusty ground.
- Park at the YMCA if you don’t want to park on the grass or think you will have trouble walking on the uneven terrain.
- Pick tulips that are primarily still closed and green with just a little bit of color on top. They will last longer!
- Take photos; the flowers are beautiful! The farm is a perfect place for a simple, but colorful photoshoot.
- Wear some clothes you don’t mind getting dusty! It will wash out, but if you plan to go anywhere afterwards, you may want to bring a change of clothes/shoes.
Hey, I’m going to Cross St. Flower Farm! Want to come?
Hmm, how long has it been?
I would only return to pick flowers once per year due to the cost. I don’t think the price point justifies the experience enough for me to return multiple times in a year. They offer different types of flower picking based on the season, so I look forward to returning at a different time next year to see what picking other flower types is like!
Based on the experience alone, price aside, I would absolutely return. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Picking flowers in April was the ultimate spring-time experience and such a fun girl’s day activity paired with a nice lunch. Once the flowers fade, we’ll have gorgeous photos to look back on and a sister-time memory to cherish for years to come.
If you check out Cross Street Farm, tag me on Instagram @jess_visits! I want to see your beautiful bouquets!
Thank you for reading my blog! Your support means the world to me, so here is a virtual bouquet for you! 💐 ☺️
-Jess
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