During most of July and now August, I have found myself, with great anticipation, gazing out the kitchen window at least a dozen times a day into the backyard. As a cathartic way to help lighten a heavy heart, I have been outside this summer more than normal, tending to my small garden even more carefully than ever.
In mid-May as I was busy formulating a botanical plan by pulling out flower and vegetable catalogs, garden books, etc., I uncovered several seed packets, which instantly reminded me of my obsession from the previous year to grow big beautiful sunflowers.
Quite the impact such a longing can make, as it even provided me with artistic inspiration, as seen from the artwork above, painted last year, and now featured in my new 2014 calendar. Also at that time, I ordered sunflower seeds of several varieties, but received them too late in the season to plant because they had to be in the ground no later than June 1st. However, this year I was just in time!
So over the Memorial Day weekend, I dug a small trench in the backyard and poured a hearty handful of seeds in the dirt. Since I usually select already established plants, it has been exciting to watch my sunflowers from small seedling sprouts. Although I am not sure I chose the best location in the yard, being on the east side of the house with sun only to mid-day, they have continued to steadily shoot upward. My Mammoth variety are suppose to reach around 10' to 12' and are currently 6'. But the lack of height has not dampened my spirits. Despite their dwarf stature, I finally see the beginning leaves of the blossom, and I still have high hopes for big beautiful blooms by fall!
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| Purchased from Burpee |
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| comparing heights - top of my head and the sunflowers |
