“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalms 46:10
Hello sweet friends! If you have been following along this summer you know we have had sunflower issues in our garden. Our first planting of seeds never came up. My resident gardener isn’t easily defeated, so he planted a second time! As the plants began to come up, the deer had a dinner party, but they didn’t come back for seconds. Whew, what a relief, they were definitely uninvited guests! The sunflowers were standing tall, not yet blooming, when we had a really bad storm mid July. We had winds in excess of 50 mph that blew for forty minutes and were constantly changing directions. The sunflowers were completely bent over on the ground. After a few days, most of them returned to an upright position. I was thrilled they had recovered so well and last Friday we finally had those big yellow blooms! Let’s take a look…
The sunflowers are planted behind our garden area near the pasture where deer and turkeys are always roaming!
The blooms are as large as a dinner plate!
A sign of another happy face!
With their big round landing pad, sunflowers attract good bugs!
Some blooms are so large that they bow down from their weight.
Bees were buzzing all around, but I didn’t catch a single photo of their activity.
The sunflower is an important source of food. Sunflower oil is a valued and healthy oil and sunflower seeds are a nutritious and tasty snack.
Sunflowers belong to the genus Helianthus, which contains over 80 different species.
Sunshine ligustrums and sunflowers seem to complement each other!
We enjoy a bird’s eye view from our garden dining spot!
Can you imagine the entire pasture planted in sunflowers?
I so appreciate your visits and your sweet comments that you leave behind!
I am so very sorry and disappointed, but due to unforeseen circumstances I will be unable to host Gardens Galore on Monday, August 21.
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Coastal Charm, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, French Country Cottage, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Charm of Home, Katherines Corner, Vintage Mama’s Cottage, Marilyn’s Treats, Peonies & Orange Blossoms, Eclectic Red Barn, Share Your Cup, 21 Rosemary Lane, The Vintage Nest, The Essence Of Home, Feathering My Empty Nest, Kingsbury Brook Farm, The Red Painted Cottage, Love Of Home, My Soulful Home, Celebrating Everyday Life, Little Farmstead, Starfish Cottage, Rattlebridge Farm, Rustic & Refined, The Freckled Rose, Life and Linda, DIY 180, The Stonybrook House, Celebrate & Decorate, Sweet Sensations
Karen Skinner says
Very pretty! Sunflowers make me smile! What lovely flowers to have for August and September!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Yes, Karen I will take sunflowers anytime! Happy weekend!
lulu says
There is something so happy about sunflowers. As my daughter would say they are brave and outspoken!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Your daughter nailed it!
Rita C. (Panoply) says
Pam, I love sunflowers too, and have never planted them, just have had volunteers from my birdfeeder – a fun surprise. When we traveled across the country last summer, there were endless fields of those glorious flower faces in South Dakota, standing in attention and looking toward blue skies with white, puffy clouds – as far as the eye could see – it was spectacular!
No worries on not being able to host the garden party – I hope it’s nothing serious but rather fun!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thanks Rita. I can imagine those sunflower fields in South Dakota!
bonnie morgan says
Yes, I think sunflowers have so much personality. I read they are nature’s bird feeders. Glad Butch persevered with replanting.
I know they will only become prettier as more blooms appear.I look forward to arrangements and table scapes.
I was going to have a hard time linking up Monday as I will be in a remote area celebrating our anniversary. Will look forward to another Garden’s Galore Party when possible.
Blessings to you and your family!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thank you Bonnie and Happy Anniversary!
Beth says
Beautiful… I love sunflowers! You should host a real garden walk for your blog followers. I live outside Montgomery so I would be there for sure!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Beth, you are so kind! Maybe one day I will host a real walk through the garden. I will let you know. Thanks for following and have a wonderful weekend!
Carole @ From My Carolina Home says
Have fun harvesting the seeds!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thanks Carole!
Esther Maddux says
One of my girls at my office grows sunflowers, and her husband brought one in to show me – it was as big (or bigger) than a big skillet and it was HEAVY! I have never seen them that big other than those normally in flower arrangements. They are amazing!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Esther, some of my blooms are huge. God’s beauty is all around for us to enjoy
inspiredbyjoydianne says
An absolutely beautiful post. I felt deep down they were going to survive the storm and stand tall and beautiful. There is nothing quite like the sunflowers to fill us with joy and smiles. Your garden is fabulous. No worries about the garden party. We will be ready when you are. Blessings to you. Dianne
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Dianne, thank you so much. I hope to be able to have the garden party on September 4. Have a joy-filled weekend!
Roxanne says
So glorious! How can a sunflower not make you smile??? What is the beautiful grass planted in front with the pink plumes? Is it an annual or perennial? We recently had a bear sighting in our neighborhood. I’m used to deer, rabbits, snakes, even wild hogs…but BEARS, oh my!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thank you Roxanne, the grass in front is a perennial and it is called adagio maiden grass! Bear have been spotted in our county, so we know it is only a matter of time before they appear on our 20 acres!
creationsbycindynefcomnet says
I absolutely love sunflowers. I always feel that they are smiling upon me. Girl, you should really frame some of your beautiful pictures. I love them all. I hope that you have a great day and are blessed beyond measure. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thank you Cindy!! Blessings and hugs!
Nancy Sharp says
I love sunflowers and yours are gorgeous! I especially like the pictures of the ones before they totally open up.
Are you acquainted with the sunflower farm in your state that “Unskinny Boppy” blogged about recently? Gorgeous!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Nancy, I am not familiar. I will be checking on that…thanks for letting me know! Blessings~
Brenda Southern says
I love sunflowers!!! And yes, I have a very bad deer Problem! The deer think my Gerbera daisies are cotton candy! They come up to our front door to eat them.
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Brenda, deer are a menace all over the country. They are such sweet looking animals, but can be so destructive!
Kim says
Your sunflowers are healthy and beautiful! You tempt me to plant a patch next year. I’m sure the deer would love it. :-/ Happy Thursday!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Under many setbacks, the sunflowers are smiling happily today! Blessings~
Alice says
Sunflowers, what could be a more perfect name for a flower. They are my sisters favorite so I did a watercolor of one and she framed it. My husband and I have a ranch/ farm in South Dakota near the Missouri River. The farmers there work so hard to not have a single weed in their fields and when you consider that the population of the entire state is approximately 600,000 then you know there are hard working folks there. We don’t live there but visit four or five times a year and try to get back to see the huge fields of sunflowers. I take my daily walk down a long country road beside fields of smiling faces of sunflowers. God is great and the sunflowers proclaim loudly so.
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Alice, I didn’t know you had a ranch in South Dakota near the Missouri River…what beautiful country it is! I can’t say we don’t have weeds in our little patch! I know that watercolor you did is beautiful! God is great!
Sandra @ Maison De Jardin says
Pam: Your sunflowers are so gorgeous. I do believe they make everyone happy. This post brought back great memories of our huge garden in VA, with tons of sunflowers.
Thank you for another lovely post. Happy Day and weekend to you !
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thanks so much, Sandra! Wishing you a beauty-filled day and weekend!
Shannon@Belle Bleu Interiors says
Pam, I always love to see your beautiful garden. Your sunflowers are beautiful!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
It is so good to hear from you Shannon. I hope you will be back blogging real soon!
Joanna says
Love your sunflowers! Did you have to stand on a ladder to get the close ups?
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Hi Joanna, no I was able to take them from the ground! I used a ladder for some more distant photos. I hope you read at the bottom of the post that I would not be able to host Gardens Galore this Monday. Hopefully, September 4th
dolores says
querida amiga Pam, aunque parece que he desaparecido no es así. Ya estoy de nuevo en mi casa de Majadahonda y me encanta tener delante mi PC habitual porque no he podido comentar desde mi tablet ya que el teclado que le apliqué no estaba en español y me sustituía letras por signos, era un horror. Naturalmente luego para tu traducción sería incomprensible.
Tengo algunas fotos que te quiero mandar por correo-mail.
Los girasoles son impresionantes a pesar de lo accidentado de su floración. Me encanta tu jardín, es precioso …
He disfrutado de mis nietos más pequeños pero en honor a la verdad he llegado a mi casa con la espalda dolorida de coger en brazos a Gonzalo porque pesa un horror, así como 11 kilos , exactamente como un gran saco de patatas….jajajaja
Un fuerte abrazo
Dolores
Dear friend Pam, although I seem to have disappeared, it is not so. I’m back in my home in Majadahonda and I love having my usual PC in front of me because I could not comment on my tablet since the keyboard that I applied was not in Spanish and I replaced letters by signs, it was a horror. Naturally then for your translation would be incomprehensible.
I have some photos that I want to send you by email.
Sunflowers are impressive despite the bumpy flowering. I love your garden, it’s beautiful …
I have enjoyed my younger grandchildren but in honor to the truth I have arrived at my house with a sore back to hold Gonzalo because he weighs a horror, as well as 11 kilos, exactly like a big sack of potatoes …. hahahaha
A hug
Dolores
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Querida Dolores, es tan bueno saber de ti, que estaba preocupado por ti. Envíe por correo electrónico por favor las fotos, yo amaría verlas. Supongo que Gonzalo está realmente creciendo, sé que disfrutó de su familia! ¡Tenga cuidado y descanse la espalda! Enviando abrazos, Pam
Dearest Dolores, it is so good to hear from you, I was concerned about you. Please email the photos, I would love to see them. I guess Gonzalo is really growing, I know you enjoyed your family! Take care and rest your back! Sending hugs, Pam
Nikki Gwin says
Pam that first picture is STUNNING! I have pinned it to my “garden goals” board.
🙂 gwingal
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thank you Nikki for pinning! Have a great weekend!
Mary says
Gorgeous Pam and worth the wait (and weight 🙂 for those large blooms! I have no doubt if I had planted sunflowers instead of the raccoons, they wouldn’t have sprouted! ???
Pam @ Everyday Living says
I just love the sunflowers happy faces!?
the Painted Apron says
I can’t imagine having a thick bed of sunflowers to gaze at in my backyard garden, so stunning Pam! So glad they finally shine in all their glory after this crazy summer~ do you have any secrets for keeping them fresh once you cut them for an arrangement? We used to have a neighbor that planted them every year and it was such a joy to drive by and see them every day, another amazing gift from Mother Nature!
Jenna
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Jenna, I don’t have secrets for keeping them fresh. As a matter of fact, I haven’t cut a single bloom yet! But I know they will be appearing on a Tablescape soon!
Virginia says
Beautiful! The squirrels got all of mine this year. We’ve never had a problem before, but our dog & cat both died this year and the squirrels have taken up residency in our backyard.
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Gardening is a challenge with all the wildlife we have. Hopefully you can try again next year!
AnnMarie says
Just gorgeous! Yes! I can imagine a whole field of sunflowers! I was fortunate to find a field close to my house and we went on a walk through it. Just can’t get enough of them and they are my most favorite flowers.
Pam @ Everyday Living says
I just read your post and commented, how wonderful to visit so much beauty! Have a great weekend!
Chloe Crabtree says
It has been a challenge, but you have really been rewarded! Your field of sunflowers are beautiful!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thanks Chloe!
Maristella says
Beautiful sunflowers!!!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thanks Maristella ???
Grammy Dee says
So pretty, I just adore sunflowers 🙂 I saw your post linked at the THURSDAY FAVORITE THINGS 301 party. I pinned it on Pinterest.
Pam @ Everyday Living says
I just visited your blog and you do love sunflowers! Thanks for pinning!
Kim says
Well they are just gorgeous. It’s impossible not to smile while reading this post and thank you, I really needed a smile. Amazing. ?
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Aw, Kim I am glad the sunflowers made you smile, they make every smile! ???
Christine @ www.rustic-refined.com says
I am loving your sunflowers. I am curious if you harvest their seeds or just buy new ones every year. I have thought of planting sunflowers all down my driveway, but using plants from the garden center would be hundreds of dollars. SO I thought of using seeds
Pam @ Everyday Living says
I always plant seeds, Christine! Sometimes I have harvested and other times I buy a package of seeds!
Gentle Joy Homemaker says
Your sunflowers look great! I am always amazed to hear of plants like this that bow down to the ground… and stand back up! Amazing. 🙂
leslie says
Wow! so beautiful!!!! Some day I would love a sunflower patch like that.
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thanks so much for visiting, Leslie!
mommyhomemanager says
So lovely! My grandma used to have sunflowers in her backyard, and I love them! I haven’t tried growing them myself…but maybe I should. 🙂
Pam @ Everyday Living says
We have been growing sunflowers for the last three years…we love their happy faces’
Sherry says
How beautiful! We enjoyed ours this year. We had one giant rouge sunflower that came up on it’s own from last year and it had over 30 flowers on it and it reached the gabled roof end of the house. Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thank you Sherry, sunflowers make me smile!
Jodie says
GORGEOUS! I am loving all of the posts on sunflowers & every year I say I need to plant some & then I FORGET (UGH) I’m marking my calendar to plant some next year. They’re just such a happy flower…
Come share at Reader Tip Tuesday (we’re open & growing all week long) xo http://www.jodiefitz.com/2017/08/22/reader-tip-tuesday-party-crafts-recipes/
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Thanks for the invite, Jodie and I did link up!
CarolMaeWY says
Your sunflowers are gorgeous. How tall are they? We have one about 9 ft tall. Mine are just starting to bloom. I don’t have as many. We’re enjoying more sweet corn instead.
Pam @ Everyday Living says
Some are probably 12-14 ft. Sweet corn sounds fabulous!