Sunflower fields planted as part of the Miracle Max's Minions initiative are blooming across Lambton County.
Spokesperson Brian Schoonjans said spring planting was a little delayed this year because of cool and damp conditions.
"It was kind of hit and miss where we could plant before the next rain, so everybody hit the same window this year. We're often more spread out but every year's different," he said. "That's farming..."
The sunflower fields at Sipkens Nurseries and Ferguson Estates are currently in full bloom. Schoonjans said the Van Loon's Family Farm in Watford, the Rombouts Family Farm in Thedford, and the VanRiel Family Farm in Thedford should have their fields in bloom by this weekend (August 8 and 9).
"They all planted within about a day or two, so they'll all be flowering at the same time, and then we'll have a final field at Van Klaveren's that will be a couple of weeks out," he said.
Locations can be found on Miracle Max's Minions' website.
Schoonjans said the goal with this initiative has been to make sure Max Rombouts' name is remembered; the two-year-old passed away in 2019 of leukemia. However, donations are also collected to support kids' cancer charities.
"We're now nearing $600,000 raised that we've donated back to many charities, including Childcan," Schoonjans said.
Over the past five years, donations to Childcan have supported Max's parking passes, where families affected by childhood cancer don't have to pay for parking at London's Children's Hospital. Parking tokens are also provided at satellite clinics at Windsor Regional Hospital, Kitchener’s Grand River Hospital, and Toronto’s SickKids Hospital.
"It seems small, but it adds up," Schoonjans said.
Donations can be made online or through donation boxes located at the participating sunflower fields.
