EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - A grieving farmer who touched people around the world with a sunflower tribute to his late wife is at it again.
Last year Don Jaquish planted a four mile ribbon of sunflowers along Wisconsin State Road 85 and became a social media sensation. Don’s wife Babbette had died of cancer a few months earlier.
This year he’s welcoming visitors to a six acre sunflower maze.
“After the four mile ribbon, people were, 'What are you going to do next year?'" Don said. "My first answer was, 'rest.'"
Don didn’t.
“She’d love it, I think she’s smiling,” Don said of his maze.
Donations collected at the maze will support Babbett's Seeds of Hope, a nonprofit organization Babbett's family established to fight cancer and support patients. Sales of the sunflower seeds support the same mission.
"We had a family here yesterday that had made the comment that this is a healing place. I think it’s a healing place not only for our family but to everyone else," said Jenny White, Babbett's daughter.
With the flowers now in full bloom, Don has opened the maze to the public. For more information visit Babbette's Seeds of Hope website and Facebook page.