HELIANTHUS - SUNFLOWER

 Such a happy flower.  Who doesn't have just a little smile on their face when they see a sunflower?  especially a field of them just walking or driving by?  This year I took an unused space of dirt about 15" by 30 " in between my fruit trees in my orchard and wanted to grow a space dedicated just to flowers   Floret Flowers in Washington state  inspired me and I had the space just had to do all of the work.  I had seeds from last years sunflowers that I managed to save from the birds and rodents so I started with those.  I planted a row of them straight down the middle of 2/3 of the bed.  Then I planted some other seeds as well. 

But just 6 weeks later:   whoops!

You can see this sunflower garden from the street around the corner but not from the front of my home. Often I have passers-by who comment on my surprise garden towering 12 feet into the sky!

                              I did save one third of the space for a new variety: Ruby Eclipse!

Ruby Eclipse - Isn't she lovely?

                         And just this morning the first of this beauty greeted the sun: Evening Sun

                           This one towered up to about twelve feet and them prepared for its debut

Then there are some preparing for their ensemble dance in the afternoon breeze

They group in clusters:

Some make it into the house

But after the bees have pollinated and the petals have faded:

They make it to their final destination:  food for the barnyard animals.  The goats eat the leaves.  The chicken peck out the seeds.

And everyone is happy:

goat: Poppy and chicken: Copper