Some of the fields planted with Miracle Max's Minions have bloomed just in time for the Civic Holiday weekend.
Several Lambton County fields have been planted with sunflowers to raise funds for kids' cancer charities since 2019, in memory of two-year-old Max Rombouts who died of leukemia.
Spokesperson Brian Schoonjans said a couple of fields at the Rogers farm, at 7184 Lakeshore Road in Kettle Point, opened in late July.
"Doug and Tracy (Rogers) plan to harvest their crop," Schoonjans said. "So, that is a crop for pictures only. We ask for no cutting. There's two fields on (Highway) 21."
Schoonjans said a field at Sarnia's Sipkens Nurseries on London Line has also opened.
"They have a beautiful patch this year. Very tall, big flowers in front of their nursery. They're open during business hours. That should be open for a couple of weeks," he said
Toward the end of August, Schoonjans expects a field at John and Joyce vanKlaveren, on London Line just east of Sipkens, to bloom.
Schoonjans said the season will wrap up in September with their last patch of blooms at Ferguson Estates, at 4195 Aberarder Line in Camlachie.
"Donation boxes are set up at every site," he said. "We also accept e-transfer [and] because we give so much to Childcan, we actually have a page on their website. You can actually go to Childcan's website and donate directly to Miracle Max's Minions campaign."
Schoonjans said donations over $25, made through the Childcan website, automatically receive a tax receipt.
This year's event started with the blooms of a canola field in Watford, at John and Jill Van Loon's property on Confederation Line.
The first sunflower field bloomed at the home farm of Max's parents, Kevin and Jamie Rombouts.
Schoonjans said the donations are given to Childcan, which uses the funds to run Max's Pass -- a program that covers hospital parking for families with terminally ill children.
Updates on the fields will be posted to the Miracle Max’s Minions Facebook page.