Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Sunflowers Soldier On

The Lemon sunflowers are still blooming, but between the birds, the bees, the relentless sunny days, and the weight of the flowers themselves, they're starting to wilt and bend a bit. I'm not sure the smallest buds will open, but I'll keep watering them in the evenings. The lemony color of the petals is really an attractive addition to the vegetable garden.

The second variety of sunflower has finally blossomed. This one is a brighter yellow, and is more than 8 feet tall! In these photos it looks very similar to the lemon sunflower. The sun was so bright today, its darker color really washed out. I'll try to remember to shoot some photos later in the afternoon, or even early evening the next time. It's a giant, but only has this one large flower, almost 12 inches in diameter. The bees love both types of sunflowers. You can't take a photo without bees all around them.

Shooting up into the sun isn't the best idea when all you have is an automatic exposure on your camera. 

4 comments:

  1. Your sunflowers are hanging in there so good! The ones around here are bowing to the ground..and of course, the grasshoppers have chomped on everything! Love the contrast of the blue sky and yellow flowers...more to add to my "art by casey" folder! thanks!
    mare

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  2. Hi Casey! Thanks for the sunflower pictures! I just love sunflowers. Two years ago I married the man I've been with for 16 years, and my wedding bouquet was small sunflowers! Yours are so pretty! I'd love to see the huge one in person. Maybe next year I'll give them a try. Any special advice for growing them? :)

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  3. Mare: I haven't even seen a grasshopper this year! once in a while I'll get a small cricket in the house, but they're good luck so I let them stay. i'm honored to have a folder! : )

    Katie: All i would say about growing sunflowers is plant more than you think you need or want. They proved to be pretty finicky in the first month or so. I planted the lemon ones from seeds, and only two stalks grew past the seedling stage. The tall sunflower was started by Mark's son in school. He gave us 5-6 seedlings about a foot tall, and only one made it to this stage. Once they're about 2 feet tall, and starting to get a bit thicker in the stem, they should be OK with almost no care except for watering and occasional feeding. I"m going to plant 20 or 30 next year, and hopefully 10-12 will make it.

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  4. MY MY MY MY MY MY MY MY MY MY MY MY MY.

    LOVE THEM LOVE THEM LOVE THEM LOVE THEM LOVE THEM.

    GRANNY

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