Thursday, July 08, 2010

Volunteer


Last year I spent lots of time trying to grow sunflowers.  My garden is too wet and has too little sun in these woods, but I was determined to add some of the sunny faces to my garden. They are the flowers of nursery rhymes and fairy tales and add necessary whimsy to one's yard.  The few long-time readers may recall I got about a dozen plants zooming up, and when they were about 2 feet tall and forming flower heads, my eager visitors, the rabbits, ate them one by one!  Some former acquaintances of Mr. McGregor, I assume.



Now this summer on my back deck, a bird that felt sorry for me, shared his winter food and planted a sunflower in my pansy pot!  It grows lonely and tall in the pot.  I stake it and water it and I am rewarded with this sunny smile.  You cannot be in a bad mood standing next to a sunny flower taller than you!

16 comments:

  1. what a pretty face it has...smiles. i love sun flowers...glad you got that gift!

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  2. That's fantastic - and an illustration of the general principle that you get what you want when you stop trying too hard ;)

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  3. I agree! Such a happy flower and so stately!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  4. I love it....nature smiled at you!

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  5. How very bright and sunny and happy.

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  6. The birdie wants you to smile too. Thus he planted for you! Now you've got someone to talk to too!

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  7. I have the same trouble. I plant them every summer; some times I get a surprise. Mostly, I pile hope upon hope.

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  8. Gosh I wish we had a spot sunny enough for some sunflowers. Your volunteer sunflower is delightful!

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  9. That is beautiful! I am going to have to plant some next year!

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  10. "you cannot be in a bad mood standing next to a sunny flower taller than you" is one of the best reasons I ever heard to plant sunflowers!

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  11. I share your appreciation, and was gladdened by a small field of white sunflower faces this week. Did you know that each petal is actually a flower, and that each little dot in the center is also a petal? It is such reproductive overkill that marks the genus as advanced.

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  12. what a lovely story, tabor! i had a plant growing seven feet high right off of the front porch but it was obviously a dandelion sort. i'm with you, i just love the face of a sunflower! nothing spells summer or happy like it...glad that you are enjoying the gift!

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  13. You have definitely received a gift. I could not work hard and end up with such a beautiful flower.

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  14. beautiful - I love sunflowers and have never had any. Planted a row of seeds and they washed away in the rain. I have one plant and the bloom is so heavy - it cannot hold its head up. I was on the ground taking a picture and will post when I can figure some things out on my new computer

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  15. Oh how lovely! I have tried for several years to grow them here but without success. Yours is so lovely. Thanks for sharing it with us.
    Smiles

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  16. It sure is a day-brightener... as are you.

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