The other day we turned a bend in the road and came upon a sea of sunflowers, acres and acres of them. They're growing near the quaint village of Townville, SC. When I normally think of sunflowers I think of the giant ones but these were a very short variety.
I suspect they are being grown for the seed or oil. Notice the silo to the right. There were four of them probably for storing the seed temporarily. The flowers above look less vibrant as the flowers are facing the other direction, to the West.
Here's closer look at the diminutive beauties with their faces turned to the West to capture as much sunlight as they could.
Above is model for the pattern for the florets of the
sunflower proposed by Vogel in 1979. It is a form of
Fermat's spiral. There is beauty but also science and mathmatics in nature, so much to learn. Click the link for sunflower to read about the uses of the sunflower, a truly amazing plant.
Seeing all the sunflowers reminded me of the sunburst platter I made some time ago. I must make more of these, was contacted by someone just this week about purchasing one. Hopefully I find a new place to land soon. OK, what does a potter do whose living in a motorhome? Why read an ad for a shimpo and be prepared to drive five hours to get it. But wouldn't you know it I just missed out on purchasing a shimpo wheel I noticed for sale on the
Clay Club. Hopefully another one will show up one of these days. This post is part of
Mud Colony what's happening in the studio. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
There is a blog that has good information on local plants and animals here in NC- I am learning so much from him.
ReplyDeletehttp://hootowlkarma.blogspot.com/2013/09/wildflower-pageant-purple-gerardia-and.html
Have you checked him out?
If no do so.
How is the hunting for house going?
There are a few farms not far from here that raise sunflowers. Beautiful. I love the tall giant ones but they are more likely to suffer storm damage.
ReplyDeleteThere is something about a field of sunflowers that just makes my heart sing! Something I inadvertently discovered years ago that they are great in new planting areas as their roots break up soil in short order.
ReplyDeleteSo sad not to get the Shimpo. Perhaps house and wheel will come at the same time. I can tell that you are missing the mud!
Sunflowers are incredibly beautiful, even when they have faded. Wish you best if luck in finding the new home and wheel, hope you'll be able to start making again soon. :)
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a whole field of sunflowers, just beautiful. Sad you missed out on the wheel.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was driving home from Michigan once and passed a field of sunflowers. They were so lovely she called her mother to describe it.
ReplyDeleteFields of sunflowers encapsulate the beauty of the day. Love them - and this post.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, so glad you're keeping up blogging, and I know you'll be doing clay work soon again!
ReplyDeleteI have not seen short sunflowers before... still very pretty. The sunflowers in the fields where I live are turning brown already.
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith, thanks, I'll check out the blog.
ReplyDeleteHi Dennis, thanks, yeah the giant ones are so lovely to see with their huge heads.
Hi Suzi, thanks, good to know about them breaking up the soil.
Hi Mark, thanks for the good wishes, I do love those fields of flowers.
Hi Michele, thanks, one of these days I'll find one.
Hi Joanne, thanks, oh what a wonderful thought of having that call from your daughter.
Hi Elephant's Child, thanks, yes sometimes just the right pick me up is in a field.
Hi Barbara, thanks, hopefully soon.
Hi Dee, thanks, we are finally getting some sun to ripen these flowers here.