Rebecca Tarbert and John Heier, left, assist customers with their floral selections during a recent U-Pick Day at J. Heier Farms in Live Oak.

LIVE OAK, CA (MPG) - The picturesque J. Heier Farms, nestled at the foot of the Sutter Buttes in Live Oak, hosted its busiest U-Pick event since opening the flower farm to the public earlier this year.

John Heier and significant other Rebecca Tarbert have transformed the landscape surrounding their home while pursuing their passion for growing cut flowers, particularly the dahlias that are the centerpiece of their free-flowing U-pick events.

Heier and his late wife, Kathy, first acquired the property in 1991 with plans to restore the historic 1860s home on the land. Heier has successfully restored the home, which he said was originally a portion of the Philadelphia Hotel in Marysville, and created a timeless farmhouse-style venue that blends with the Sutter Buttes and surrounding California landscape. The property also features two dedicated flower gardens showcasing dahlias.

Guests browse rows of dahlias in a prism of colors, sizes and petal shapes during a recent U-Pick event at J. Heier Farms in Live Oak.

Heier's background in farming and agriculture-related industries has allowed him to guide the farm through different eras of growth and production, including walnuts, almonds, cattle, blackberries and now flowers.

Heier turned his focus to growing flowers after his daughters, Marie and Emily, wanted dahlias for their weddings. Having grown other crops, the devoted father set to work with the help of Tarbert.

The pair found themselves experimenting with blood meal and soil mixes to grow the perfect blooms, focusing on dahlias, cosmos and zinnias.

"After they (dahlias) came up and we saw how beautiful they were, I think we both got addicted to them," Tarbert said. "So, John designed our second garden."

The second garden is one of many unique focal points on the property. Heier's circular design features rows that radiate outward from a central point. His artistic eye is evident, with a color wheel concept applied to the flower plantings to create a colorful blend of blooms.

After supplying flowers for his daughters' two weddings, Heier and Tarbert were left asking what to do with the overflow of blooms filling their gardens.

John Heier, left, and Rebecca Tarbert pose in their dahlia garden with the restored farmhouse at J. Heier Farms and the Sutter Buttes in the background.

"They're so beautiful, we have to share these with people. What do we do?" Tarbert said, explaining that both her and Heier's schedules prevented them from committing to local farmers markets.

"So, we did a proof of concept last month about doing a U-pick," Tarbert said. "We texted our friends and said, 'Hey, would you come out for free, bring a bucket and some snippers?' We got a lot of ideas and it gave us the confidence to just go for it."

An hour into their fourth pop-up U-Pick event, Heier and Tarbert had already run out of their $15 and $25 containers, but arriving guests were happy to adjust to the shortage.

Suzanne Fillmore and Sherry Wyatt were among the many guests who visited J. Heier Farms on Sunday to clip flowers.

Since the $25 options had already sold out, Wyatt said she was happy to purchase two $15 tins because the metal containers were so charming.

Fillmore came across the notice for the pop-up U-pick on social media, inspiring the pair, both veteran flower farm visitors, to make the trip from Chico.

"I didn't know this existed," Wyatt said, adding that after years of driving past the Sutter Buttes, she didn't think she had ever been so close to them.

Rebecca Tarbert points to a row of Café au Lait dahlias that bloomed in a buttery yellow shade instead of the variety's traditional creamy ivory-blush pink. Both color variations were available during the recent U-Pick event at J. Heier Farms.

"It's lovely out here," Wyatt said. "This is like Disneyland to me, a flower farm with dahlias."

As visitors circulated through the garden areas, they shared stories and visited with one another while clipping decorative, ball, pompon, single-flowered and other varieties of dahlias.

"They have gorgeous dinner plates," Fillmore said, commenting on the large ruffled blooms, some measuring 6 inches or more across.

Meanwhile, the sense of joy was as palpable as the laughter filling the air.

"I do believe that flowers, they're joyous," Wyatt said, adding that she and her friend planned to return.

Reflecting on past events, Tarbert said she and Heier are thankful for the opportunity to meet new people and share their garden with the public.

"There is such a sense of camaraderie and happiness when people are in the garden," Tarbert said.

J. Heier Farms is planning its next pop-up U-Pick event from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. J. Heier Farms is at 4880 E. Butte Road in Live Oak and is open to the public only during posted event times.