sunflower

Deer among the sunflowers

/ Rebecca / 10 Comments

Because of the hot and humid weather, one of our favorite walking times is around dusk, when the temperature is cooling down.  One of the benefits of walking at this time is that it is an active time for deer, which prefer to feed during low-light hours.  Occasionally, we spot one that has come out of the woods to forage on corn, soybeans, and in this case, sunflowers.

“The real world, in my opinion, exists in the countryside, where Nature goes about her quiet business and brings us greatest pleasure.”  ~Fennel Hudson

The sunflower

/ Rebecca / 10 Comments

The sunflower — one of my favorite flowers.  These beauties were growing in a garden at a resort on Reelfoot Lake.  They really seemed to be attracting the bees and goldfinch.

Always remember the sunflower
Whose face looks toward the sun.
She drinks his beauty in her face
And like him she becomes …
~L. Gayle Orf

Field of sunflowers

/ Rebecca / 10 Comments

One of the fields near our house is growing a crop of sunflowers this year.  Immature sunflower buds turn their heads during the day to track the motion of the sun (heliotropism).  Generally, by the time they mature and their heads become heavier, they face the east in order to catch heat from the early morning light.  The majority of the sunflowers in this field are facing east, but there are still a few that appear to be “looking around”.

“Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it.  And that’s such an admirable thing.  And such a lesson in life.”  ~Helen Mirren