SUNflowers Galore!

mayres · #1 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 01:08 AM

Does anyone out there like sunflowers?
I have had a backyard of them for the last 4-5 years during the summer months - a couple hundred plants at least. They are carefree and bloom their hearts out the entire summer. To go wander among them any time of day is a wonder to behold - the beauty and uniqueness of many types of flowers within (only a few of the many colors and types shown below) are rich. I am in awe.

pikevi · #2 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 05:41 AM

wow, So many sunflowers.

I have seen sunflower farms in some TV programs .

I never had a sunflower plant.

Do the flowers really follow the path of the sun? The flowers seem to be facing in all directions.

I love those dahlias. I have a few of them. My dinner plate dahlias did not bloom this year

cupcake · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 06:06 AM

I just can't look at sunflowers without smiling! You have a wonderful display! All mine seem to be eaten by snails, but I shall try again next year.

**Tobi** · #4 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 06:48 AM

Nice display Mike. We have them around here but I can't recall
seeing that many together.

flowerchild · #5 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 07:13 AM

My neighbour has sunflowers every year and I get to enjoy his and all the little finches that come with it!!! Cindy aka flowerchild

sandra · #6 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 07:20 AM

Mike, that is a gorgeous sight. To see all of those in one spot and your backyard nonetheless....that would make my blood pressure go down. When I lived in Calif., every summer I would buy a dozen of these from the market and keep them in an old farmers bucket in my living room. They cost almost $20 and I could have just picked them from your backyard...who knew?

Do I see a tomato plant nestled in there that you have growing also?

tizzycat · #7 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 11:13 AM

Mike, I love the sunflowers and dahlias so cheery and colourful. Some sunflowers grew in our garden last year from the bits the visistors to the bird table dropped, then the birds enjoyed the seeds when the flowers were done. The perfect cycle.

mayres · #8 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 11:46 AM

pikevi - yep, they do generally follow the direction of the sun throughout the day - especially when they just have a bloom or two on top. As these varieties branch out more and more it is more difficult for the flowers to twist and turn so it is not quite so obvious. Yes, I've been into dahlias in a big way in the past too - currently only a few stragglers. I have a good friend who gives me some of his extras any year I ask for them so that I can be lazy and not dig my tubers every year - depending on the severity of the winter they may or may not return if left in the ground.
Flowerchild - yes, the birds and squirrels have a hay day back in my yard during the fall months.
Sandra - if you were in Salem you could come over ANY day and pick all the sunflowers you wanted for FREE! I take large bouquets into my office and it doesn't even put a dent in the supply. Yep - gobs of tomatoes to eat right now! Wish you were here to help me eat those up too - I will need to take a few buckets into work this week so they don't all go to waste.
Tizzy - yes the cycle is interesting. I have two major crops of flowers that self seed themselves every year. Sunflowers in the backyard and zinnias in the front yard. Some seasons they come back as thick as grass and it would actually be easier to just till them all up and plant them new instead of trying to thin thousands of extras.

Thanks all for the comments and have a GREAT week!
Blessings,
Mike

sandra · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2007, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayres

Sandra - if you were in Salem you could come over ANY day and pick all the sunflowers you wanted for FREE! I take large bouquets into my office and it doesn't even put a dent in the supply. Yep - gobs of tomatoes to eat right now! Wish you were here to help me eat those up too - I will need to take a few buckets into work this week so they don't all go to waste.
Mike

Mike, this is the sweetest thing I've been offered here, thank you! Since I hate tomatoes, can I pick some additional sunflowers? I'm packing my suitcase and lightly to make room for the Safeway bargains!

mayres · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 12:33 AM

Sandra - I "thought" I didn't like tomatoes either, but I finally grew out of that notion. Lots of good healthy nutrition in a tomato!

Sure - extra sunflowers anytime. In the meantime, since you are "only" 3500 miles away - here is a virtual sunflower "bouquet" collage that I put together from my collection out back....

pikevi · #11 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 04:44 AM

wow, mayres

I had no idea that there are so many colours in sunflowers. If you had not mentioned it I would have assumed that some were zinnias.

Lovely flowers and a fantastic collage

tizzycat · #12 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 06:30 AM

love your collage Mike

**Tobi** · #13 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 07:19 AM

Nice pics Mike!!

flowerchild · #14 (**permalink**) 09-12-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayres

Sandra - I "thought" I didn't like tomatoes either, but I finally grew out of that notion. Lots of good healthy nutrition in a tomato!

Sure - extra sunflowers anytime. In the meantime, since you are "only" 3500 miles away - here is a virtual sunflower "bouquet" collage that I put together from my collection out back....

"STUNNING!!!!!!!"

sandra · #15 (**permalink**) 09-13-2007, 12:36 AM

I don't know how I missed this Mike but I'm glad it was re-newed with these latest posts. These photos are extraordinary. Those colors are so beautifully vibrant and their details are just awesome. Those last 2 pics are my favorites

. To wake up and go to my backyard and see these...I wish...instead of the old lady who's sweeping her porch and coughing like an old sailor, which is what I see in my backyard, lol. They won't be around much longer till next summer, right? It's probably the kick-off to summertime for you every year now?

AWESOME.

Sharyn · #16 (**permalink**) 09-13-2007, 03:15 PM

Wow Mike - so many beautiful colors. I'm sure the birds love you. Just watch out for those "vegetarian' neighbors - they munch on dried seeds too.

BillC · #17 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 08:32 AM

Hi Mike, thought I would post this pic of one of a dozen I grew last year. When fully grown it was 8ft. 9inches tall and the flower was 16 inches in diameter. When they were finished I cut them down with a parang; the stems were 2 to 3 inches in diameter at the base.

Enjoyed your collage and may try to grow all the colours together.

Bill

sandra · #18 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 08:38 AM

If I never saw for myself how huge these get, I'd never believe they were real. Beeeeeautiful!

mayres · #19 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 10:32 AM

Nice Bill. I have not grown the large type flowers for a few years because I enjoy cutting flowers and bringing them to the office and giving bouquets to friends - also the smaller flowers bloom successively over a period of many weeks as you deadhead each batch of new flowers. The seeds on the smaller varieties are not as good for people either - too small to eat - but it never stops the birds and squirrels.

I need to get a tape measure and see how tall some of my plants have gotten - pretty sure they are higher than 10 feet - I have played a fair amount of hoop in my day and they are definately higher than that.

Yes the stalks can get pretty substantial too. It takes me a few hours once the season is over to cut them up into small sections so that I can rototill them into my garden.

tizzycat · #20 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 11:44 AM

Bill it must be great being your neighbour

BillC · #21 (**permalink**) 09-14-2007, 01:33 PM

Tizz, if you were my neighbour, would you venture into the GH knowing what might be in there in the nooks and crannies, looking out with four or six eyes?
Would you water the plants without a care if a thread of gossamer wafted across your face? If you would then the beers would be on me.

Bill