SANBORN, N.Y. — Sometimes, when times are darkest, it's hard to find the sun.

Louise Brachmann was mourning a death in the family and the corner lot on Baer Road and Route 31 was too wet to plant the family's regular crops.

The family decided to plant sunflowers instead. It would prove a fateful choice: a few months later, visitors by the thousands were flocking to their Sanborn farm to snap pictures and marvel at the garden. 

Six acres of sunflowers — an estimated 170,000 flowers— are starting to sprout along Route 31 again. The Brachmanns say the pressure is on to make this year even better, which is exactly what they inted to do. 

 

 

Snacks and beverages will be available this year and visitors have a new place to park thanks to an old pasture. There are other surprises, too, but they're keeping mum about it for now. 

The Brachmanns, who pay for seed, labor, fuel and water all out of their own pockets, say there's no price on making the community smile. 

"I think the one thing that I've learned is that money isn't everything," Louise said. "We take it for granted in nature every day. Just stop and look around. These sunflowers brought a lot of memories to people."