Come see us on the Iowa Barn Tour! Opening Weekend: September 19th & 20th.

English Hills

A Historic Homestead, Reimagined

Pleasantville. Iowa

Opening Weekend September 19th and 20th

Join us on our opening weekend of September 19th & 20th. The farm is open and free both days from 9:00am - 5:00pm. On Saturday September 19th from 5:30-10pm, we will be charging admission for our Movie Under the Stars event.

Free Family Events

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday & Sunday

Lavender

Our lavender products will be available for purchase.

Flowers

Enjoy our fields and garden, grab a bouquet, and take in the beauty of late summer on the farm.

The Harp Lavender Barn

Step inside a piece of Iowa history. Built in the early 1930s, our restored historic barn stands as the heart of English Hills Farm and a lasting symbol of the property's agricultural heritage.

Farm Goods

Discover a collection of farm goods inspired by English Hills, from lavender products and hand-poured candles to seasonal flowers and other small-batch offerings.

Kid's Activities

We will have a reading of Peter Rabbit and We are the Gardeners, under the big walnut tree, followed by a flower walk in the meadow.

Photography

Our meadow, barn, and sunflowers set the backdrop for great photography sessions. Bring your camera!

Picnic & Movie Under the Stars

Join us Saturday at dusk for a screening of Under the Tuscan Sun, projected onto the side of our 1930 barn.


Purchase a Palmer’s Deli Picnic to enjoy before the movie begins. Guests are welcome to come for Movie Under the Stars beginning at 5:30-7:45 pm. We ask guests to be seated by 8 pm. The movie will begin at dark.

PICNIC & MOVIE TICKETS

A Historic Countryside Escape in Central Iowa

Come for the flowers. Stay for the experience.

English Hills is a lavender and sunflower farm on a historic 100 year old homestead nestled in the rolling hills of Pleasantville, Iowa. Just a 35 mile drive from Des Moines, our farm offers visitors a place to wander among the flowers and experience the slow paced beauty of the countryside. At English Hills, we want you to feel like you’re on vacation in the heart of Iowa.

Wander through rows of English and French lavender, take pictures in sunflowers that descend into the sunset, stop and relax in a meadow, under a grove of walnut trees, or bring a picnic and your camera to this romantic setting, dappled in afternoon light. Then, tour the 100 year old barn that sits atop the hill that will one day serve as the lavender drying facility. Before you leave, grab a bouquet of flowers, farm merch, or lavender products.

Farmhouse Cottage

We've spent countless hours restoring the historic farmhouse at English Hills, preparing it to one day become our family home.

Inspired by the English and French countrysides, the cottage has been thoughtfully reimagined with colorful interiors, wallpaper, and timeless European charm. Every room was designed to feel beautiful and lived in—a place that celebrates craftsmanship, history, and the changing seasons.

Many of the spaces were intentionally created as backdrops for our flower photography. Select rooms, including our sunny yellow cottage kitchen, will eventually be available to rent for photography and creative sessions.

This part of the estate is still a work in progress. Once the restoration is complete, we'll launch a dedicated rental page with availability and details.

Until then, follow along on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, as we share the restoration—from laying stone and hanging wallpaper to limewashing walls and bringing this old farmhouse back to life, one project at a time.

The Harp Lavender Barn

We named our barn in honor of the builder, Paul Harp, a man we never met, but wish we could have. The Harp Lavender Barn has stood watch over the hills of Marion County since the early 1930s. With its soaring gambrel roofline, weathered wood, and sweeping countryside views, it stands as a reminder of Iowa's agricultural heritage.

English Hills Farm was honored to receive a restoration grant from the Iowa Barn Foundation. Through that support—and countless hours of hands-on work—we are carefully restoring the structure while preserving the craftsmanship and character that make it so special.

Today, The Harp Lavender Barn serves as both a symbol of the farm's past and a cornerstone of its future. As restoration continues, it will provide a place for creativity, flower drying, learning, and the backdrop for farm gatherings. We are honored to preserve and share this piece of Iowa history with generations to come.

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