Ruby Branch Farms opens Kentucky’s largest sunflower maze for the season

FRANKLIN, Ky. — Bright yellow blooms are once again welcoming visitors to Ruby Branch Farms as the family-owned farm officially opened its annual sunflower season Wednesday.

Known as home to Kentucky’s largest sunflower maze, the farm features 15 acres of sunflowers, a two-acre zinnia oasis and a wildflower patch, offering families, photographers and flower lovers plenty of opportunities to explore and create lasting memories.

Co-owner Laney Snider said the attraction has come a long way since the family first planted sunflowers in 2018.

“We actually planted our first sunflowers just out of necessity in 2018, and people loved it so much that every year we just started adding a few more and a few more, and another acre and another acre. Then the next thing we knew, we were making maze patterns in it, and now we have Kentucky’s largest sunflower maze,” Snider said.

Keeping the flowers blooming throughout the season requires months of planning. Snider said the family begins planting in April and continues sowing new sections every seven to 10 days to ensure fresh blooms continue through August.

“I think a lot of times people don’t realize how quickly they bloom and then how quickly they mature and aren’t pretty anymore,” Snider said. “If we planted all 15 acres at once, we would be done in 10 days.”

Beyond the flowers, Snider said the farm has become a tradition for many returning visitors.

“We hope that we truly become a family tradition,” she said. “We’ve actually had couples that were dating, got engaged, got married and brought their children back to the maze. It is so wonderful.”

In addition to the sunflower maze, visitors can walk through a two-acre zinnia oasis, enjoy a wildflower patch and pick flowers to take home. Guests can purchase stems individually or buy a $10 cup and fill it with as many blooms as they can fit.

Snider said seeing families travel from across Kentucky and Tennessee to visit the farm each year is rewarding.

“We know people work really hard for their money, and the fact that they choose to spend their time and spend their money with us means a lot,” she said. “It’s part of what keeps this family farm going.”

Ruby Branch Farms is open Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 8 p.m. Admission is $7 per person, while children 2 and younger are admitted free. Photographers are also welcome during regular business hours with standard admission.