Get lost in a maze of corn at Greenstreet Gardens

It's not a crop circle, but a geometric corn maze gracing the Lothian landscape has some mystery: how it was created and how much it cost. But at least we know who was responsible.

Amid its retail expansion, Greenstreet Gardens went the extra mile this year - or make that a mile and a half - by adding a corn maze with 1.5 miles of trails to its offerings.

The maize maze occupies roughly 5 acres in the back of the property, out of eyeshot from the retail store at 391 West Bayfront Road.

The idea for a maze had been growing in the minds of owners Ray and Stacy Greenstreet. Last year, an Internet search led them to www.precisioncornmaze.com. From there they hired Missourian Rob Stouffer to build their maze.

Since 2001, he's carved maze formations for a host of clients (he won't reveal how many), mostly east of the Mississippi, but this year he ventured as far as Oregon and Hawaii during his "cutting season," which runs from June through September.

Mr. Stouffer's technique is part science and part experience from his childhood on a row farm. He uses satellite GPS technology and a tractor-type machine he vaguely refers to only as a "cutting device" to create his maze shapes.

Plotting the Greenstreet maze took planning, requiring a late June planting of corn so it would remain verdant through the fall. Rows were first planted in normal horizontal fashion, then cross-planted vertically, without tractor paths, for extra crop density, so maze walkers can't peek-a-boo a path between the stalks.

He styled the Greenstreet Gardens maze in what he calls "a random swirl pattern." Only the paying clients were allowed to watch.

"I find that so far my clients have been loyal and are respectful of this intellectual property I have created," said Mr. Stouffer.

The maze, which debuted Sept. 16, has one entrance and one exit. "Some people can get through it in as little as 12 minutes, and for others it may take up to an hour," said Mrs. Greenstreet.

Before entering, patrons are given a length of PVC pipe with a colorful flag attached to the top, which they can wave to Greenstreet employees perched on a hilltop if they become hopelessly lost. The employees are armed with bullhorns to communicate with meanderers in the maze.

In addition to the corn maze, there's even more seasonal fun at Greenstreet Gardens' fall festival on Saturday and Sunday, and again on Oct. 15 and 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Volunteers from the South County Faith Network will sell refreshments and keep those profits.

After that, the maze will remain open to the public on weekends until Halloween. Weekday visits for schools or groups are available by reservation only. There are picnic tables available for parties or groups.

Traversing the maze will be trickier yet during Moonlight Maze nights, Oct. 22 and 29, when volunteers from Southern High School will man the maze from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., keeping all profits for the Bulldogs. There are no lights at the maze, so flashlights are recommended.

Normal hours for the maze are 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. The fee is $6 for adults, $3 for kids age 3 to 10, and free for younger children. For a few more dollars, there are package deals available that include a hayride and a pumpkin patch visit. There's also pumpkin painting and scarecrow making.

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For more information, call Greenstreet Growers at 410-867-9500.

Debbie Hough is a freelance writer in Churchton.