One second, you’re in the middle of farmland, Enumclaw — and the next, an English garden.
Laughing Goat Flower Farm, located just past the Yella Beak Saloon and Farmer’s Park on state Route 164, is a flowery oasis in the middle of horse and cow pastures.
Amy Brown, executive director and head horticulturalist, said she started the farm in 2015 as a way to grow her own vegetables and herbs and produce goat milk products.
“I imagined myself making boutique goat cheese, and very quickly realized that goats are a lot of work,” she said.
But then she attended a floret workshop in 2016, fell in love with flowers, and decided to transform the 10-acre grass field into a vivid display of peonies, dahlias, and myriad other summer blooms.
“Since I sort of fell in love more with the plants and the horticulture side of things, the goats became pets, and my husband thinks it’s really ‘funny’ that I convinced him to get goats, and we have goats now,” Brown continued, explaining the name of the farm. “So he’s the one that came up with the name, because he thought it was really funny, ha ha, that I made him get goats.”
Peonies are Brown’s favorite flower, and it shows — there are more than 77 different varieties planted around the grounds, and more than 1,800 peonies total.
At first, Brown sold her flowers to various shops (and she still ships her dahlia bulbs around the world, she said), but as the farm has grown, it’s become more of a place to hold events.
“[I’m] just trying to create a garden space where people can come and appreciate nature,” she said.
At the moment, she mostly hosts small events and parties — baby showers, dinner parties, etc. — but started a wine tasting event last year as a way get people outside after being cooped up during the pandemic.
There are three more Peony Sip and Stroll sessions you can buy tickets to this month.
Two are on Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, both from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is for adults only (no infants or pets), and participants receive a charcuterie box from Milk & Honey, a choice of a red or white bottle/can of wine, and the chance to walk through the private gardens. Tickets are $50; Saturday tickets can be bought at simpletix.com/e/peony-sip-stroll-tickets-106872, Sunday tickets at simpletix.com/e/peony-sip-stroll-sunday-june-12-tickets-108208.
The third session is Saturday night from 5 to 7 p.m. This session, for $160 a ticket, is limited to 30 people only. Participants receive the same charcuterie box, wine options, and garden access as those who attend other sessions, as well as a Studio McGee wicker bag filled with specialty, curated options. You can buy tickets for this VIP session at www.simpletix.com/e/vip-peony-sip-stroll-tickets-106874.
Those that are unable to attend the events can still enjoy the farm’s retail shop, which is open to the public every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Retail items are also for sale at laughinggoatfarm.com/product-category/retail/.
For more information, head to laughinggoatfarm.com/.
