Puddleford Tree Farm is transforming this week as acres of sunflowers are exploding to colourful life.
Its’ the fifth year the East Kent Christmas tree farm has gone blooming for Alzheimer’s.
Gail Whitney, who, along with her husband Matthew, runs Puddleford, said the idea evolved out of her time spent with her late father – who suffered from Alzheimer’s – and the pandemic.
She and her father painted Christmas ornaments together to help keep his mind and motor skills as active as possible, which led to her connecting with the Alzheimer’s Society of Chatham-Kent.
After her father passed away, she continued to work with the society.
When the Covid pandemic struck, she and her husband came up with the idea to plant 20,000 sunflowers and showcase them to the public, while raising funds for the Alzheimer Society at the same time.
“We had a fantastic Christmas season in 2020. We were experiencing Covid. When people came to get their Christmas trees, everyone was just happy to be outside,” Whitney said. “We decided to grow something that would bring people out in the summertime.”
All the funds raised go towards day programs with the Alzheimer Society, allowing family caregivers periods of respite from the constant time spent looking after of a loved one.
The joy people experience visiting the field brings a smile to Whitney’s face.
“It’s incredible when you see people’s faces. They just love the sunflowers,” she said.
Whitney said the flowers are enjoying the weather and are ready to be enjoyed by others.
“We try to plant our flowers in May and they are typically ready in early July,” she said.
In most other circumstances, sunflowers in Chatham-Kent are to be enjoyed in a see-but-don’t-touch environment. Farmers don’t want people wandering into their fields for photos.
Not so at Puddleford Farm.
“This way, people can go into the field and do what they want. They’re not damaging a crop. It’s here for them,” Whitney said.
Donations are $5 per vehicle. And anyone who wants to take a sunflower home can do so for just $1.
New this year is a fee for professional photographers who bring subjects out for photo shoots. Whitney said they will be asked to pay $35 per hour to utilize the field in such a manner.
When the flowers are done blooming, the Whitneys leave things to Mother Nature.
“We let the plants go to seed and the birds come out to eat,” she said.
But birds and people aren’t the only beneficiaries of the field of sunflowers. Things can be buzzing during pollination time.
“When the flowers bloom, the bees come in. You can just hear the field humming,” Whitney said.
To date, the Whitneys have donated more than $11,000 to the Alzheimer Society of Chatham-Kent.
The farm is located at 22896 Scane Rd. and is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
