by Diana Claude

Created on: September 08, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

If you are looking for a great day-cation that is not only fun, and inexpensive, but will also help the victims of Pediatric cancer, then look no further. For what could be better in early autumn than to pack-up the whole family for a day of picking your own apples, peaches, berries and pumpkins at Lyman Orchards Farm.

Lyman Orchards is located in Middlefield, in the central part of Connecticut. It was established in 1741and has operated continuously as the twelfth oldest family owned business in the United States. Beautiful and scenic, the orchard is sprawled on 1.100 acres and includes a homestead and a popular golf course.

Back in the day when I was driving a school bus, I can remember bring loads of children there on field trips. They would gleefully clamor up the hills and return with their bags of apples, eating half of what they had picked and chattering. I would roam around the country store and choose my pies and cider to take home with me. "Not bad, for a days work."

What makes this farm most note-able is the two mazes. First is the Sunflower maze. The sunflower maze was born from an idea that was inspired by children who suffer from cancer. To determine the design of the maze, the children entered a contest that was sponsored by Connecticut radio station the River 105.9. the design was then sent to world renowned maze designer named Bett Herbts. He took three acres which comprised of 235,00 sunflowers and made them into a maze in the shape of a guitar.

The other maze is the Corn Maze. It is carved in the shape of the faces of George Washington and President Barack Obama. This Presidential maze was created to honor all the 44 Presidents and will start with George Washington on September 5, 2009, and will end with Barack Obama on November 1, 2009. On Halloween of this year, kids can come dressed as their favorite President. Included in the visit to both mazes, are maps, educational materials, games, trivia and they even have "corn-cops" to keep you from getting lost. Best of all; One dollar of the proceeds from each admission will go to the pediatric cancer Medical Center (CCMC) in Hartford Connecticut. There is a coupon for a dollar off the admission at http://www.lymanorchards.com/events/sunflower_maze.s html .

In addition to the mazes Lyman Orchards offers many other activities year round. There are picnics, group fund-raisers, pony and wagon rides and much more. They also have a country store(The Apple Barrel) where you can buy the fresh picked harvest along with home made pies, cider and other sundries.

Lyman Orchards is located at the Junction of Routes 147 & 157 in Middlefield, CT 06455. The Apple Barrel hours are open 7 days a week Sept/Oct: 9am-7pm. Remainder of year: 9am-6pm.

Main Phone: 860-349-1793. apple Barrel Fax: 860-349-1223. Office Fax 860-349-1434. Golf Fax: 860-349-1656

For more information about Lyman Orchards, visit their website at ....http://www.lymanorchards.com/about/

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