Sunflowers

Before I left North Carolina, my friend Lisa gave me a little tiny pot of Sunflower seeds. Once we arrived we planted them in little pots. Then, my green thumb husband, Bob transplanted them in various places around the garden. Some in an old wine barrel and a couple in the ground.

It’s funny but the flowers all seem to be different. The first photo the bloom has a few petals that are spread out. The second photo shows that the other flower has many more petals. My memory of sunflowers tells me that it is only one bloom per stalk but that is not the case with these either. Well, not all of them. The stem in the first photo has now produced 5 more buds. It hasn’t grown tall but it has grown in abundance in its own way.

The ones that we put in the ground have also grown differently from one another. One grew to about a foot and then bloomed. One flower. Beautiful.

Notice the one behind it. A bit taller but no flower. Well, that one has continued on its upward growth. It is now about 5 feet tall.

And slowing blooming. This was yesterday afternoon.

And this was this morning.

It is going to be gorgeous. I always heard and believed that Sunflowers are supposed to follow the sun. But if you search online you will find differing views on this – some say that the blooms always end up facing East. The ones in the wine barrel are facing East. The smaller one in the ground was facing South/Southeast. This huge one is facing East. As in facing the wall. It isn’t looking at the sun at all but we wonder if it is the sunlight heating the wall that has made it focus that way.

Helen Keller said, “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what the sunflowers do.”

I am enjoying the fact that from this tiny little pot there are so many different characters. All growing in their own way. Not following anyone else’s lead. Independent. Doing it their way.

Not a bad way to live I think. Be You! Be your own sunshine. Don’t follow others.

“Bloom where you are planted.”

“Be bright, sunny and positive. Spread seeds of happiness. Rise. Shine. And hold your head high.”