MIMS, Fla. – It may be a scorching 80 degrees across Brevard County these days, but it's starting to look a lot like autumn in Mims.
The Sledd's U-Pick sunflower maze is back, and just in time for fall-themed festivities, News 6 partner FLORIDA TODAY reports. The massive sunflower maze will open this weekend: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Weekday hours will vary. Admission is $5 per person, and children under three are free.The maze is also wheelchair and electric scooter accessible. Make sure to leave pets at home, though, as only service dogs will be permitted.
The farm is located at the end of Burkholm Road in Mims.
Guests will navigate dozens of curves, roundabouts and dead-ends as they make their way through the yellow spectacle, clad with sun hemp 6 to 7 feet tall. Sledd's hosted a maze in May, but this time around, it's bigger and better, said Stacey Sledd DeMoss who owns and operates the farm with her family, and better yet, it was made with a message pointed at the heavens.
DeMoss, who mowed the maze herself, carved out four acres of land filled with sunflowers and sun hemp to portray a giant flower with the words "In memory, C.H. Sledd."
It's a tribute to her father, who died in December of multiple cancers. DeMoss runs the farm year-round with her mother, Pat Sledd, and nephew Kendall Sledd. The farm is best known for its U-pick strawberry season.
DeMoss used nothing but a rough sketch to craft the spectacle, which can be seen vividly from the sky. No GPS. No fancy software programs. She just "drew it on paper and went with it," she said, and "used the GPS in my head."
"It means everything to me," said DeMoss of the tribute to her father, who had hoped for a maze on the farm for quite some time. He was around for last year's autumn maze, she said, but wasn't able to actually go through it. Now, the giant piece of art points right to the sky.
For those on the ground, don't count on this maze to be easy to navigate, she said. Set aside at least 30 minutes to peruse through the pathways and be prepared to get lost. The spring maze didn't grow quite as tall as this one, so it's even more challenging, said DeMoss. Also, be sure to bring bug spray and sunscreen.
"It’s hot and the skeeters are definitely in there," said DeMoss. "And there are bees in there, so if you’re allergic to bees, I’m not going to say you’re going to get stung, but there are definitely bees."
The maze was planted on August 12 with more than 300 pounds of sun hemp and 240 pounds of sunflower seed. It grew quickly, she said, and will last for about another month. DeMoss said she doesn't anticipate the maze will be open past the end of October.
In the meantime, thousands have already seen the aerial view of the maze, and a photo DeMoss posted on Facebook has since gone viral. DeMoss said she was stunned by the response.
As the farm opens this weekend, the Sledd family anticipates many will show up to try out the maze, but even more will be interested in photos. DeMoss said the sunflowers make a beautiful backdrop for wedding, baby and senior photos and there have been many requests already. All guests are welcome to take photos for no extra charge during operating hours.
The farm will also host about 800 Brevard County students beginning Oct. 11. Sledd's is gearing up for 13 field trips from local schools. Children will get to pick pumpkins, try out the maze and hopefully get a hay ride, said DeMoss.
A pumpkin patch at the farm will also eventually be available, she said, but not for a few weeks. U-pick vegetables will likely be ready toward the end of October as well. This includes cabbage, collards, kale, broccoli, peppers, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, eggplant and cucumbers. Sledd's is the only year-round U-pick farm in the area.