Sunflower Maze Opens in Waterford on June 22, 2024
In which I revisit favorite articles from 2024.
Originally published in the Hughson Chronicle & Denair Dispatch on June 11, 2024. The Hughson Chronicle & Denair Dispatch is part of MidValley Publications - committed to the power of the positive press. Reprinted with Permission.
On June 22, 2024, the Old Tim Bell Farms' Sunflower Maze will open at 1313 Old Tim Bell Rd, Waterford, will open for its inaugural season at 9 a.m.
The maze is brought to Waterford by the Springers, the family behind Old Tim Bell Farms. Agricultural mazes are a long-standing tradition in the Central Valley, with corn mazes popping up every autumn, but a sunflower maze is a novelty in the region.
Why sunflowers? They are the favorite flower of Rachel Springer. She and her husband, Tyler, planted a small field in front of the barn on their property. They used them as a backdrop for family photos. “We got a huge response from family, friends, and local photographers loving the property and wanting to use it for their family photos,” Springer said.
Community involvement has always been a vision of life on their farm. For the past two years, the Springers grew pumpkins and donated them to elementary school classes. “When so many people were interested in the sunflowers, it felt like a sign that we should grow them on a larger scale. We wanted something more interactive than just a field, so we thought a maze would be a fun way to showcase the flowers and let the community enjoy them,” Springer said.
Tyler Springer grew up in Hughson. He is a fourth-generation farmer and grew up working at his grandfather Antone Damas’ fruit stand. The fruit stand closed by the time Tyler was in high school. “But Tyler’s love for growing things never stopped, and he has had dreams of opening his own fruit stand one day,” Rachel Springer said. “That’s where Old Tim Bell Farms comes in; not only will we have a sunflower maze during the summer, but we will be selling fresh fruits and vegetables that we grow on the farm. Come fall, we will be opening our pumpkin patch to the community, where we will have a corn maze and some of the cheapest pumpkins in the county. Looking into the future, we have plans to bring fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat to the community in a larger way, but you’ll just have to stay tuned for what’s to come.”
To grow the sunflower maze, the Springers’ first step was to enrich the soil. They planted Royal Hybrid Sunflowers and watered them regularly. “Sunflowers like a decent amount of water,” Springer said. Once the sunflowers were about four inches tall, the family mapped out the maze and carved it out to ensure the paths would be smooth. “Then you wait, give them the water they need, and watch them grow. It takes roughly 70 days to start seeing your first blooms.”
Royal Hybrid Sunflowers grow to seven or eight feet tall. Their seeds are often used for sunflower oil.
When asked what they are most looking forward to, Springer said, “We are most excited to welcome the community onto our property and meet everyone. We haven't been on social media for very long, but we have already had such positive feedback from our local community. It will be wonderful to get to meet them all in person and show them the sunflowers we have worked so hard to grow.”
To grow your own sunflowers, Rachel recommends planting them in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, watering regularly, providing support for tall varieties, and “be ready for the bumble bees!”
The Krepe Dog, The Churro Spot, and The Drip Coffee Bar will be on-site to kick off the Sunflower Maze's grand opening. There will be a variety of fresh-cut sunflowers for sale for $1 per stem and specialty bouquets for $8. To experience the maze, visit 1313 Tim Bell Rd in Waterford on June 22 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $8, and children under the age of two get in free.
The farm will be open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., June 22 to July 14, 2024. To stay up to date on Old Tim Bell Farm happenings, follow them on Instagram @oldtimbellfarms.
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