Friday, May 29, 2009

Can you love a flower too much?


Flowers. Who doesn't love them?
Especially this time of year, everywhere you look, something seems to be in bloom. From year to year, I've always had a favorite flower...bee balm, alstromeria, tulips, delphinium, but I've found my favorite over the last few years hasn't changed.
I am in love with the simple sunflower.
For some unknown reason, these flowers touch me and make me happier than any other. I smile more when the sunflowers begin to bloom. Their brightness, their beauty, their sturdiness, all of these things, just make me feel very happy.

My love of sunflowers has carried over into the decorating scheme of my home. Here is my friend, the "Cow in the Sunflowers". He lives in my kitchen:

"Sunflower Farm in Illinois" enhances my living room (photo credit: Gnightgirl from This Just In):

An all-season sunflower lives on my side porch:

And if I ever write you a note, it may just come on a sunflower card with a sunflower stamp:

As often as possible, I like to bring the real thing inside:

And, as if this flower wasn't perfect enough, once these beauties are finished blooming, those great big sunny heads will delight the birds, squirrels and chipmunks with their juicy, black seeds:

So, given my love for this flower, it won't be surprising when I say that I am about to plant some sunflowers in my garden. But if you remember my blog post on my garlic planting last fall, where I planted eight different varieties of garlic instead of just one type, you'll know I probably have something similar in mind for my sunflower garden.

I have been collecting various and diverse packets of sunflower seeds for months. And the time is finally here...it's time to plant them.

I have thirteen different varieties just waiting to be planted. My pal, Marcee, even sent me three unusual varieties from her favorite seed store, Johnny's. Though I plan to scatter the majority of the seeds randomly throughout my yard, being a bit of a nerd, I also will be planting a small "test" garden in one spot where I can track one or two of each type and identify each one when it blooms.

That's what these little wooden stakes are for, noting the variety and how tall they should grow:

Picture me smiling right now.

21 comments:

  1. Yep, you aren't the only one. I did a post a couple of months ago about the same thing. Sunflowers have become a favorite of mine over the last couple of years.

    I love that decorative sunflower and lady bug on your porch!

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  2. Ya think your love of sunflowers stems from all those cloudy days up there? As a fellow nerd, I LOVE your little wooden markers. Can't wait for the post where you show us your test garden in bloom!

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  3. I've got the sunflower bug but didn't get any in the ground this year Danni! Next year for sure. Can't wait to see how they do. I had one called Vanilla Ice...I think, I'll look it up for you. It was a fun frolicy sunflower.

    http://www.burpee.com/product/annual+flowers/sunflowers/sunflower+vanilla+ice++-+1+pkt.+%2850+seeds%29.do?search=basic&keyword=sunflowers&sortby=newArrivals&page=3

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  4. Wow! Totally cool! I've got three types that we put in the bed at the front of the property the other day. I'm really hoping they turn out. I love 'em, too. I'm hoping that the crows and chickens don't leave me with nothing, tho!

    I'm excited to see how your plantings turn out - and will anxiously anticipate hearing your reviews on the various varieties - I was at such a loss when I chose my types...

    Looking forward to pictures!

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  5. Lovely photo-essay!

    I just went through all of my flower packets yesterday and I think I have seven sunflower varieties - not as many as you, for sure!

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  6. That's a great idea! It will be interesting to see all the different varieties! This reminds me to plant my sunflowers.

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  7. I love that cow in the sunflowers card! I had some sunflowers come up one year from under my sunflower bird feeder.

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  8. I love sunflowers too. I plant them sometimes. I love how tall and majestic they are. Their bright sunny faces cheer me. I have that same "Cow in the Sunflowers" scene on a fridge magnet. I like cows too.

    Can't wait to see your sunflower bounty! Take lots of pictures for us please.

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  9. Sunflowers, really? Who would ever guess that you like those? :)

    I have little, bitty sunflower sprouts popping up in all the places that I scattered them. AND, I did find some of those mammoth ones. Yay! I am gonna plant those so that they can make G a sunflower house to play in. He is very excited!

    I cant wait to see all your diff ones. In the test garden and everywhere else. I just know that they will be beautiful.

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  10. I had no idea there were so many varieties of sunflowers. I confess, I thought there was only one...If I had to choose, I think I'd pick the cheerful white daisy as my favourite.

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  11. I can't wait to see your sunflowers in bloom :)
    Tracey

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  12. oh, if seeing a sunflower can't brighten your day, you're a hopeless case. :-)

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  13. What?! Has Bill seen this sunflower madness? He is going to be deeply distraught and realize he is out of the yearly competition......

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  14. I love seeing sunflowers growing in gardens. They DO tend to bring smiles. It seems up until maybe ten years ago, one would never see them in a bouquet, I'm guessing the smaller varieties have become quite popular to florist shops. I love'em . . . big, little, simple, fancy . . . doesn't matter, I just love'em!

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  15. I love them too and plant some every year. It's also nice that they tend to "volunteer" and I have surprise ones too.

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  16. Sunflowers are great but my love is fuschias. Probably because we have very little sun and tons of shade.

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  17. Oh! Oh! I LOVE sunflowers too. They're just so happy and cheerful! Cannot wait to see how yours turn out. Lots of pics please!! :)

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  18. I'm with you, I have a strange LOVE for sunflowers, too! I've always wanted to plant some, but I wouldn't know how to go about it...too late now :-P. Maybe next year...for now, I'll look at other people's flowers. :D

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  19. OMG I so love sunflowers! For me, as well as the beauty and simplicity, they are a representation of healing of my mental health.

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  20. You should save some seeds to eat! They're yummy!

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  21. Wow! What a wonderful assortment! I cant' wait to see pictures of the blooms!!

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