Sunflowers-4-Smiles field in Cottam offers one last weekend

Over 1,000 people are estimated to have already gone for a walk through, taken selfies and even had some professional photos captured among the 31,000 sunflowers planted on the Rocheleau family farm near Cottam.

The field opened for the first time on Aug. 15, with the aim of raising funds by donations for Ronald McDonald House.

“We wanted to spread some joy,” said Ashley Rocheleau at her family’s farm on Road 10. “There isn’t anything like this around here,” The family decided to give it a try. “We opened earlier than expected because the sunflowers had bloomed already, “ she said.

Friday’s storm system did damage to a few of the plants and made for muddy grounds, causing them to close, but they were back open the very next day.

Three-year-old Emma Riberdy and seven-year-old Mason Riberdy, of Windsor, get a close up look at the sunflowers on the Rocheleau family farm near Cottam. This weekend, the family will wrap up tours of the field.

Sun photo

Unfortunately, she said they can not accommodate pets due to the liability. “Unless they are a service dog with paperwork,” she added.

She said visitors are also asked to adhere to provincial guidelines as it relates to COVID-19, such as not attending the field if you are not feeling well, social distancing, washing hands etc.

As of Saturday they had raised around $3,500 of the $5,000 goal with Sept. 5 set as the last day depending on weather, she said.

The field is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is located on Road 10, west of County Rd. 27 (Belle River Rd). Turn left just past Gosfield North Public School and the farm is the third driveway on the north side of the road.