Beginning in 2002, Ford Motor Company began planting sunflowers (and later other crops) at a number of their properties around Dearborn. This is a guide to the latest locations and crops.
Please note that as of 2010, these fields are now posted “no trespassing” so should only be viewed from public roads. RRBO has permission from Ford security to survey them.
1. Southeast corner of Southfield Freeway (M-39) service drive and Hubbard. Since 2009, this has been planted in hay and harvested; a cover crop or short weeds remains overwinter with a border of sunflowers, but they are not very productive. 1a & 1b. These fields are a wildflower mix (primarily cosmos, Rudbeckia, grasses, poppies, and asters). They are on either side of the Ford entrance road, and separated from field 1 by a row of trees and a road.
2. Southwest corner of Southfield Freeway (M-39) service drive and Hubbard. See 1.
3. In front of Ford World Headquarters on Michigan Avenue. Sunflowers, bisected by a double row of trees.
4. Southwest corner of Southfield Freeway (M-39) service drive and Rotunda Drive. Weeds, and bare ground. The UAW building at the site is no longer occupied, so as of 2010 the parking lot is blocked off.
5. In the triangle formed by Schaefer Road, I-94, and Rotunda. Some sunflowers bordering a harvested hay field (see 1).
6. Both sides of Lundy Parkway, a road going through a business park between Mercury Drive and Greenfield Road. South of Lundy Parkway, wildflower mix. North of Lundy Parkway, some sunflowers, bare ground, bordered by a woodlot.
7. Southfield Freeway (M-39) service drive south of Paul, behind Home Depot. Wildflower mix.
8. Ford Road and Mercury Drive. Wildflower mix.
9. Along entrance road to Fairlane Town Center off of Evergreen, across from Big Fish Restaurant. Wildflower mix. Note that this field is often mowed before winter.