BUILDING

I finally did it! I built that sunflower bed I’ve always wanted. I tried to build a Sunflower House play area for my children when they were little but it didn’t take. I have had small puddles of sunflowers in my yard and in my garden but never have I really reached the goal of a true sunflower garden, until now!

It was a challenge. I had to remove years of matted turf. Run fencing to keep the rabbits out and get help digging and planting. But boy was it worth it.

I first ordered non-GMO sunflower seeds in an array of sizes from little puffballs to giant pan-sized sunflower heads. I was so excited to start planting. I called the kids to come help…and they came, all of them. It was such a fun day.

I chose the perfect location for the bed where you could see it from most of the windows in my house. And I made it BIG! I put the giant sunflowers in the back and staggered the remaining flowers down to the puffball-sized sunflowers in the front.

When they grew they were magnificent! They attracted the attention of everyone from the neighbors to the rabbits and especially the birds. When the children came over it made the perfect photoshoot location.

As the season of beauty came to a close the seeds were so abundant. I have jars and jars of each type of sunflower we had loved all season. Marking all my favorites, toasting a few, feeding the birds the overstock of seeds and sharing with friends and family made it the perfect season.

You can bet we’ll be doing it again and this time you can come to see these sun-worshiping beauties too.

Happy Planting!