My love affair with sunflowers

“I find comfort in contemplating the sunflowers.”

Vincent van Gogh

In the summer of my 10th birthday, my mother planted mammoth sunflower seeds in our garden. We watched those small black seeds turn into gargantuan plants well over 10 feet tall! The sunflower head was larger than my head and I was awe-struck with the orderly but artistic pattern of the black seeds embedded into its face. My brother and I proudly dragged one of these plants to school for our summer “show and tell.” I’m not sure my fellow students were as impressed as I was, but it was one of my best ever summer experiences.

This began my love affair with sunflowers. I feel joy when I see them popping up along the roadways, shaking their heads to wish me well. I have hundreds in my yard because I let the seeds drop and plant themselves wherever they want. They embody sunlight, happiness, simplicity, and resiliency. I’ve heard that pioneers traveling westward dropped these seeds along their trek to give hope to those who followed behind them. True or not, I know every August is a little brighter because of their presence.

 What flower gives you joy?