Sunflower Summers
It will come as no surprise to my friends and family that summer is not my favorite season. In fact, depending on the day and how far above 90 degrees it is, it might be my least favorite. BUT, included on the very short list of things I love about summer are sunflowers.
I absolutely adore sunflowers. They have almost always been my favorite (except for that fling I had with hibiscuses that time). My Granddaddy was an avid gardener whose love language, I’m pretty certain, was giving gifts. And, by gifts I mean fresh produce…or, in my case, flowers. Every summer, as far back as I can remember, he would plant sunflowers in late summer just for me. Sometimes he would even get creative and plant some that were orange or SUPER HUGE. He loved to give me updates on how they were doing and when would be the best time to come take pictures.
Granddaddy’s sunflowers.
Sunflowers will always hold such a special place in my heart because of him. I like to incorporate them whenever and wherever I can. For example, I used sunflowers to honor the memory of each of my grandparents at my wedding. I couldn’t think of anything more fitting. I’d say my Granddaddy was probably looking down smiling. But, let’s be real…he was probably looking down thinking they weren’t big enough, and he was probably right!
There were four chairs across the front row, each with a single sunflower wrapped in white ribbon for each of my four grandparents.
My husband and I also took our engagement pictures in a giant sunflower field in Ohio (Loveland, Ohio, ironically). Once again, I couldn’t think of a more perfect setting to celebrate such a monumental moment. Sunflowers feel like a hug to me. A hug from my Granddaddy. They are so bright and cheery, and they make for the best backgrounds.
If you’re local (Raleigh, NC), then I feel certain you know about the giant sunflower display at Dorothea Dix Park every summer. (I’ve actually never been, and I waited too late this year.) But, did you know about the smaller, slightly more colorful, sunflower field at the NC Museum of Art? It’s just darling. From what I understand, it is quite a bit smaller than the field at Dorothea Dix. But, when it’s approximately 1,000 degrees outside…well, let’s just say I wasn’t mad that it was a quicker excursion.
You can see some of the sculptures I mention below in the background.
Last week my mom and I visited Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park at the NC Museum of Art. In addition to sunflowers, the park has some very unique sculptures and Insta-worthy backdrops that I hope to go back and check out…on a much cooler day. Just a short, scenic walk from the parking lot is the 2.5-acre field of sunflowers, plus cosmos and zinnias, giving it a unique edge over your typical sunflower field.
Sunflower fields have become quite trendy over the last few years. It seems like every summer Instagram is flooded with beautiful pictures of perfectly-posed people living their best lives in a sunflower field. In fact, I can guarantee that almost anywhere you live…there is probably a photoshoot-worthy sunflower field calling your name.
The first summer after my Granddaddy passed away, I was in Delaware on vacation when my parents texted me the below picture.
One random sunflower stalk that meant the whole world to me.
I distinctly remember being at dinner, and being less than okay…in the best way, when I got that text. It felt like my Granddaddy had sent a little reminder from heaven that even though he wouldn’t be there to plant sunflowers for me anymore, I would always have a piece of him, a memory, a moment when I see a sunflower.
This is at the end of that same summer.
That one little sunflower was the first of more than ten that would bloom over the course of the summer. My mom dried out two of the sunflowers and put them in a shadow box for me. Now I’ll always have the very last sunflowers Granddaddy ever grew. Rest assured…if my house ever catches on fire…this is one of the first things I’ll be grabbing.
What are some of your favorite things about summer?
-D
