A Flourishing Haven: Northern Blossom Flower Farm at Atok, Benguet

Where do dreams go when we wake up? Do they directly go to the trash bins of our minds and are permanently deleted from our memories? Or are they somehow stored in a hard drive, just waiting for the perfect time to be turned into a reality?

It was what I heard my soul was asking as I was wandering around the heavenly view of this flower farm I was about to share with you.

Hello, everyone!

Yeah, it's been again a while. Life has been incredibly busy lately, leaving little time for rest or relaxation.

It feels like ages. And yes, even this post has long been sleeping in my draft, patiently waiting for the time when I can summon the time and effort to finally post and share this breathtaking experience I had with everyone.

It happened during the holiday for Chinese New Year came, I took the chance to embark on a spontaneous holiday getaway to a place known for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultural heritage, which of course, promises a refreshing much-needed escape from the daily grind - the beautiful province of Benguet.

And so, together with my brother and his wife, from Pasay, we took the night trip bus headed to Baguio via TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway).

We arrived at Baguio City at around 4:00 AM. Aside from its chilling temperature that hugged us welcome, we were also greeted by this vibrant mural proudly showcasing the rich heritage and traditions of the Igorot people, adding a colorful tapestry to the city's cultural landscape. And yes, the "art-enthusiast soul" in me was truly happy and amazed.

From the main Victory liner terminal, we rode a taxi to the Dangwa terminal, and from there, we were able to ride a van at around 4:15 AM to our destination, Northern Blossom Flower Farm which is blissfully located in Atok, Benguet, which is one hour and a half away from Baguio City.

It was still dark when we arrived and the community was still rousing from a deep slumber. It felt like it was even colder there than in Baguio City that your hands would hurt without gloves. Unfortunately, I was not able to bring one so I just had to hide my hands inside my coat's pocket.

We paid 250 PHP (15.02 USD) for the entrance fee, which also includes the environmental fee, bread and unlimited coffee (to be served at the end of the flower farm tour). We were lucky to be among those early birds because there was a long queue toward the entrance. When the farm opened at exactly 6 AM, there was a blissful celebration within me saying, after all those years of seeing this place only on social media, yey!!! I am finally here!

We entered a greenhouse full of these lovely pink and red flowers.

Despite my body shivering in its biting cold weather, as I got outside of the greenhouse, lo and behold, nature had her stunning way of giving us a warm welcome I was left in stunning astonishment as I witnessed the beauty that was unfolding right before my very eyes.

I used to see hydrangea in a painting and now, I gaze at it in the flesh, with the sun's golden rays gently caressing the petals of each flower, casting a warm glow upon the fields, what a feast to my senses, indeed!

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And then, these white rose cabbages, which have put Northern Blossom Flower Farm on the map, left me in awe as my eyes gazed upon them for the very first time in my life and it felt surreal. And yes, they are edible.

As I continued my stroll, more hydrangeas, with their bursts of color and their vibrant display of blooms dancing freely in the sun's warm rays, welcomed me. Their beauty has made me for a while, at a loss for words.

The views were even more stunning, to say the least when the lighthouse took over the dawn's darkness. I came upon more of these rose cabbages and with the pink variety this time, with the Cordillera mountain range forming a striking background.

Aside from the rose cabbages, Northern Blossom Flower Farm is also a home to these rows and rows of colorful blossoms stretch out before me, like snapdragons, larkspurs, dusty millers, alstroemeria, matthiolas, delphiniums and many more flowers that I have never seen in my whole life because they are not common here in my country, swaying gently in the morning breeze. Each flower seems to be reaching towards the sun, basking in its radiant light.

And then, I found my favorite spot, my heart was in blissful celebration as I stumbled upon this field of daises.

I only had the privilege of enjoying their beauty as I immersed my imagination into one of my floral paintings, but now, they're gracefully swaying and dancing with the gentle sound of the cold breeze right in front of my very eyes.

And just like in my painting, I wanted to be among their blooms so I did not waste the chance to have a mandatory picture with them, and why not?

At the end of our breathtaking flower farm tour, each visitor was given bread and an unlimited cup of coffee.

And as I took a sip of this hot coffee, it was not just my stomach that became full, but my heart as well as I enjoyed nature's picturesque scenery at its finest in front of me.

As the sun continues its ascent, casting long shadows across the fields, I take one last look around me, committing this moment to memory. The sunrise at the flower farm may be fleeting, but its beauty will linger in my heart forever.

Having been able to witness the Northern Blossom Flower Farm's magnificent beauty is like making a big chunk of my dream has turned into a reality.

And as I leave the farm behind, I carry with me a sense of peace and gratitude, knowing that I have been blessed to witness such a breathtaking sight.

Thank you everyone for dropping by to read my post!