Bunnyland returns to Butler’s Orchard in Germantown.
“We are so excited for our first festival of the 2022 season, running April 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18, 23, and 24!”
9 am – 6 pm
(Last entry 4 pm)
$10.00/Person
(Children Under 12 Months Free)
This family-friendly event to celebrate Spring offers:
10 Acres of Farm Park Fun:
– Egg Hunt (Runs Continuously – Eggsare NOT Filled & Must Be Returned)
– Goodie Baskets For Children Under 12
– Giant Slides
– 2 Hilltop Hop Jump Pads (StrawberryJump Pad For Children Under 40″ H)
– Farm Animals & Baby BarnyardBuddies in our Hayloft
– Pedal Tractors
– Playground
– Combine Tractor Slides
– Straw Pyramid
– Farm Fun Zone (Ball Tosses, Corn Hole,Horse Hoop Toss)
– Hayride Through Our Decorated DayTrail
– Country Bunny
– Face Painting $
– Pony Rides $ (10:30 am – 4:30 pm)
– The Farmer’s Porch $ (9:00 am – 5:00pm) Will Be Serving Breakfast, Lunch, & Delicious Treats!
Bunnyland is a weather dependent event. Check the Butler’s website or social media for daily updates.
Inclement Weather Policy:
If Butler’s Orchard cancels activities dueto weather, a coupon code will be e-mailed to all ticketed guests to rebookfor another day of Bunnyland or farmadmission during the Summer and Fallseasons (including Pumpkin Festival).
Refund Policy:
Full refunds including ticket price andfees will be processed upon requestwhen Butler’s Orchard cancels activitiesdue to weather. All other refunds will beprocessed for ticket price only. Rescheduling your visit does not incuradditional fees.
Tickets are available at https://butlersorchard.ticketspice.com/bunnyland-2022
Earlier today, Butler’s Orchard announced the passing of Susan Joy Butler.
Per Butler’s Orchard:
Susan Joy Butler, 63, passed peacefully at home surrounded by her husband, Washington White, and family. She was born on June 15, 1958, to George and Shirley Butler of Germantown, MD. Susan, the third child in a family of four, was raised on the family farm and worked in the family business, Butler’s Orchard.
Susan earned her degree in Horticulture from the University of Maryland; and worked for a year at Grady Auvil’s apple ranch before returning home to the family business. From picking strawberries to general management, Susan mastered all aspects of the family business and strove to teach the value of personal connection and supreme customer service to all hired by Butler’s Orchard. She mentored generations of employees teaching them about patience, communication, follow through – personal skills that are foundations of life and leadership.
In keeping with her priorities, Susan dedicated many hours to agriculture associations. She served as President of Future Farmers of America – Damascus Chapter; the Maryland Horticulture Society; and the North American Strawberry Growers Association. She also served on a number of county advisory boards: Agriculture Advisory Board, Agriculture Preservation Board, Maryland Farm Bureau Board of Directors; and was a member of the International Fruit Tree Growers Association.
Susan retired from Butler’s Orchard and she and Washington opened Waters Orchard for apple picking… and soon expanded to a hard cidery, opening Doc Waters Cidery in 2018. The couple thoroughly enjoyed pouring hours into growing apples and pouring cider for happy customers. The transformation and development of this beautiful nearly 100 acre property is a testament of their love and a shared passion for agriculture and the land.
After experiencing the joy and excitement of planning, planting, launching and growing these two successful businesses, Susan and Washington decided to sell Waters Orchard, Doc Waters Cidery, and their farm land, to niece and nephews Hallie, Tyler and Ben Butler in late 2021.
Throughout her life Susan loved to travel. Her well worn passport features trips to British Columbia, The Netherlands, Ireland, Machu Picchu/Peru, Mexico, France, UK, and New Zealand – which was a personal highlight for she and Washington. Domestically, Branch Lake in Ellsworth, Maine, was one of her favorite destinations. With Outward Bound – she went hiking, kayaking, and dogsledding – loving and enjoying the outdoors. Additionally, Susan trained guide-dog puppies for the Guide Dog Foundation to help provide a profoundly better life for recipients. Susan was a very kind and generous soul – providing love, care, opportunity and inspiration to so many. She has spread joy in the same way she planted daffodils – far and wide.
Susan was predeceased by her father George in 2000, her brother Todd in 2010, and her mother Shirley, 2020. Survived by her loving husband Washington W. White IV and step children Mackenzie Brown, spouse Jeff and daughter Audrey, Utaw Cuseo White and his wife Emilie, Georgia Cuseo White; brother Wade Butler, his wife Angela and their 3 children – Hallie Blue Butler Van Horn – Billy and daughters Aurora and Willa; Tyler Cole Butler – Erika and daughter Scarlett and son Cole; Ben Walker Butler – Amy and son Beau; sister Carol Butler; sister-in-law Susie Butler – fiance’ John Miller, son Matt Butler and his wife Kayla.
In Susan’s memory, please consider donating to a charity of your choice.
Right after graduating, George and Shirley Butler purchased a 37-acre farm with a log house, where the Butler family grew up. Initially we grew 25 acres of peaches and sold them to a local grocery store and at our own small farm market. Now, we have more than 25 varieties of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and trees on over 300 acres! Three Butler children earned horticultural degrees from the University of Maryland and lived and worked on the family farm. (The other sister chose the corporate life!) Sadly, the family lost Todd Butler in 2010. He started growing pumpkins as a High School project and this led to our popular Pumpkin Harvest Days and Pumpkin Festival traditions.
Our Farm Market started under an apple tree behind the log house selling peaches. Later, it moved to a former chicken house that still stands on the property as a garage. The red barn was built in 1964 and over the years we increased the variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables we grew and sold. In the 1970’s, we began selling additional products in our Farm Market, including preserves, local honey, gourmet condiments, seasonal decorative items, cider, and more! In 1993, we outgrew our original red barn and expanded the Farm Market to the current facility that you can visit today.
Shirley Butler Has Died at 91, Leaving a Legacy at Butler’s Orchard
Shirley Brown Butler, whose family invited visitors to “pick their own” produce at Butler’s Orchard, has died at 91 years old. She was lovingly known as “Mrs. B” on the farm. She could be found driving around Butler’s Orchard in her golf cart, followed by her dog Dakota.
Shirley Butler grew up in Silver Spring, Md and attended Blair High School. She worked at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, while her husband George H. Butler studied pre-med. Then in 1950, the Butlers bought a 37 acre plot with a two-room log house from the 1850s in Germantown, Md. The farm started out with 17 acres of peach trees. Butler’s Orchard now has over 25 varieties of fruits and vegetables.
Wade Butler, one of four children of the Butlers, described Butler’s Orchard’s business model to WTOP. “People wanted to come out, enjoy the fresh air, pick fresh crops, pay them for the crops they were picking — which was kind of a novel idea — and then go home happy.”
Butler’s Orchard has now expanded to over 300 acres and is reaching its 70th year anniversary. Families around Montgomery County will continue to spend time together at Butler’s Orchard for years to come as the 4th generation of the Butler family continues to work on farm.
By Amy Lusignan
