September 15, 2010

The mysterious volunteer is always a welcome puzzle

I kept watching this plant in the garden. I didn't recognize it's leaves and it was big and kept getting bigger. I thought it was some exotic herb that an herbalist friend of mine sometimes brings me and that it had reseeded itself, so I let it go.

And Voila! I am walking up from the compost pile and there is the flower! So recognizable.

I've never grown sunflowers before so this must have come from a bird or a packet of old flower seeds I threw out sure that nothing would geminate. What a pleasant surprise! I'm just going to let it go and let the birds have a feast as I've never found a good way to shell the seeds except with my teeth and that has always seemed like too much work for too little gain. So I'll let it be my gift to the birds!

Sunflowers must be very easy to grow since I didn't water feed or pay any attention to its nurturing. Love it! And if you're interested, they come in all colors.

At Heirloom Sunflower Seeds Flash Blend Certified Organic