Friday's Flower........Sunflowers

Ah Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done;
~William Blake

As summer's end is drawing near, my last Friday Flower is one of my favorites......the Sunflower.

The first picture was a picture I took last year when we were visiting the Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH.  Not only are sunflowers beautiful to look at, but the seeds that they present when they are spent are gifts to the birds and squirrels as they prepare for winter.

Every year that I plant a garden, I always plant a bunch of colorful sunflower seeds. At the end of the summer I am rewarded with these beautiful happy faces.....hmmm....makes me think of one of my favorite REM songs....Shiny Happy People, but I digress...that happens as you get older I am told...

My favorite of all the sunflowers that I plant is the enormous Mammoth Sunflower, but unfortunately due to my late planting this year, they are only just starting to open their eyes.  The dried sunflowers at the top of this post are Mammoth Sunflowers.

I love everything about this particular type of sunflower.  The flowers are HUGE and the seeds are plentiful, giving the birds that I so enjoy all summer a little extra to munch on before their long journey south.

As the summer comes to a close, there are things that I enjoyed and things I wish I had more time to indulge in, but of course there is always next year to dream about, right?  The upcoming season is my most favorite season of all......and this labor day weekend will be spent with some neighboring fiber friends on Saturday and a special visit from a blogger who has come home from overseas on Sunday. 

Enjoy your labor day weekend!!!

Comments

[Leslie]

I haven't planted sunflowers in years! I do have some perennial sunflowers by the house, but next year I MUST have some of the big ones! Beautiful pictures!

[julia fc]

Hope you had fun. The sunflower field down the street fom my house was harvested the day before I traipsed down there for a blog photo. They do make me smile.

[Teyani]

autumn is my fav time of year also - lovely sunflowers; they are such a cheerful sort of summer bloom :-)

[moiraeknittoo]

These are beautiful. Thank you! I must remind myself to go looking for pics of sunflowers when the PNW winter starts to get to me.

[Mary E.Dadds]

As I have told you before,my garden was late.
And i was beginning to think i would not see the Sunflowers bloom.
But they Bloomed this past week and they are so lovely.
why do you think it is that we spinners,knitters ,Quilters seem to like the same things?

[anne]

thank you for the sunny flowers!

[tiennie]

How very cheerful!

[mary ann]

Thanks for sharing these sunflowers! They always amaze me -- a little something for everyone.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your visit!

[Beth S.]

They're so cheerful, aren't they! :-) I should plant some too.

Have a delightful weekend! You'll be in first-rate company, it sounds like. :-)

[PumpkinMama]

Beautiful flowers. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

[elizabeth]

This is the first year I've planted sunflowers but they will definitely be a garden staple. So easy, quick to grow, and I loved watching the birds devour the seeds - happiness all around!

[Ruinwen]

It has been so lovely to see your beautiful flowers every week. This drout has killed everything where we live. Your sunflowers are so pretty. I can just imgaine their happy faces watching over your garden. :)

[Cheryl]

I love sunflowers, one of my favroites! See you soon.

[margene]

Sunflowers do have such happy faces. Tell Jean hello from Utah!!

[Wool Winder]

Beautiful sunflowers! It's hard to believe that summer is ending. It's gone by too fast for me.

[Charleen]

I love sunflowers too! Of course most years August shows up and I'm sitting there with the unopened seed pack :-(

I forgot to tell you how beautiful your Tupelo Honey colorway is. Can't wait to see it in person!

Enjoy your weekend!

[gina]

Have a wonderful and restful weekend with your friends...we had rain here, finally, and the temp is going to be below 90 for the first time in about 32 days so we will be happy. Getting ready to cast on the socks with your beautiful yarn.

[Laurie]

Sunflowers are so wonderful. Can't wait to see you!

[Carole]

I've never planted sunflowers. Yours are beautiful! Have fun this weekend!