Late last week, Alan had to make a trip to a neighboring town on a road we seldom travel. As soon as he saw "IT", he knew I'd want to make a trip out there, and soon! He passed a HUGE field of beautiful blooming sunflowers! As far as you could see, SUNFLOWERS!
He was right -- I DID want to go! We would have gone out last night, but it was cloudy in the evening, and I wanted evening sunshine. Tonight, we had evening sunshine! Guess where we went!!
The field was amazing, and the light was just right!
Alan waited by the car while I happily shot photos of the field.
If we farmed our land like this, you can bet I'd want sunflowers year after year!
Yeah, sure, I know about crop rotation and soil rejuvenation between years of crops, but it just doesn't get any prettier than this.
Perhaps we would just have to figure out what other flowers we could grow in the "off-sunflower" years. Down here, they tend to rotate between corn, cotton, and milo. And I guess, sunflowers, but we rarely see fields like this. Corn and milo fields are pretty too, but nothing like sunflowers! And the cotton -- well, it's kind of blah... at least it's green, though!
The sound of the wind in a field like this is wonderful! A constant rustle of their giant leaves against one another.
I had to get close-up shots, too! I love the pattern of the seeds as they grow.
Even the backsides are pretty. I think it's really amazing how full of
pattern they are, and are so organic in their shapes and movement.
Just how many seeds do you imagine one sunflower produces?
Imagine how many seeds a field like this produces!
It was the perfect way to spend a Saturday evening.
Alan and I have the best "dates". *grin*
Last year at the end of May, we stumbled upon another field like this, and went to take photos the following weekend. When we went to take more photos later in the month, the field had been harvested. I just about cried...
That Alan knows how to make your day, for sure! These photos are AMAZING! Is morning light as good as evening light?
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | June 17, 2010 at 10:16 PM
The photos os the fields of sunflowers as far as you can see are simply magical!
Posted by: Single Stone Studio | June 16, 2010 at 08:20 PM
Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for the sunflowers and nature! It reminds me to take pleasure in the simple things God made. And those sunflowers are amazing!
Posted by: jenny4wheel | June 15, 2010 at 06:16 AM
My favorites. Reminds me of France..... I just love the beauty.
Posted by: Patti | June 14, 2010 at 10:47 PM
AMAZING! I'd like better adjectives to use....you know, more descriptive and complimentary and such. First, though, I have to shut my mouth since my chin is hanging wide open and down to my chest. Your photography is wonderful and I just can't get enough of it. And this sunflower field of sunflowers is AMAZING!
Posted by: Jennifer Woodward | June 14, 2010 at 02:34 PM
AWESOME!!!
How absolutely beautiful....sunflowers as far as the eye can see. TFS Anna...your pic's are amazing!
Karen x
Posted by: Karen | June 14, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Glad to hear you had such a wonderful time with life's simply pleasures.......We're thinking Allen got "lucky" that night! :)
Posted by: leslie | June 14, 2010 at 11:51 AM
How wonderful - so pretty & fun! Thanks for sharing your wonderful pics. My kind of "date." Hugs.
Posted by: Troy Louise | June 14, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Wow! Reminds me of going to a Tulip Festival in Washington! "Sunflower fields forever!" Awesome photos! :)
Posted by: Kathy Martin | June 14, 2010 at 06:45 AM
beautiful photos. here in minnesota the sunflowers are no where near ready to bloom. that will not happen until sometime in late August.
Posted by: sherryann (aka Sherry) | June 14, 2010 at 02:36 AM
Amazing photos, Anna! Thank you for sharing. This brings back wonderful memories of my only trip to France in 1997. It was July, and how fortunate for me that the lavender and sunflowers were in bloom in Provence. Field after field of both of them, mile after mile. What a thrill. Here's a little sunflower poem I will share with you:
**********************************
POEM TO A SUNFLOWER
I see you there in glory shining bright,
following the sun and its path of light.
Standing tall above all others in the field,
you grow, conquer, and do not yield.
The little birds take great delight
in playing round you, from day to night.
With petals of yellow and leaves of green, how very easily you are seen.
************************************
I really must find a spot in my garden for a some sunflowers. I do have a couple of lavender plants.
Linda
Posted by: Linda Bullard | June 13, 2010 at 08:47 PM
What a great find! I'm so glad Alan discovered that field of flowers for you! Your photos are PRICELESS! Just awesomeness, as always. I have seen sunflower fields here in NE, and also in KS. They ARE gorgeous! They always take my breath away, and I often stop and stare...just too pretty!
Thanks for sharing your photos. They are AMAZING! :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | June 13, 2010 at 07:53 PM
I am just here to wipe up Leigh's drool! I know she was drooling after seeing your beautiful pics Anna!!
Posted by: Mecah Dow | June 13, 2010 at 05:26 PM
Gorgeous! Ans soooooo jealous!
Love the pics!
Diane
Posted by: Diane Cooper | June 13, 2010 at 04:23 PM
You are amazing. Your eye for beauty in nature never ceases to amaze! Look at all the detail and magic your camera lens has caputured. TFS< Hugs...
Posted by: Carol Dee | June 13, 2010 at 02:59 PM
gorgeous - thanks for sharing! :0) apparently you don't have stinkin squirrels in TX -- I planted two sunflowers and the squirrels have already found them :0(
Posted by: Sandy in VA | June 13, 2010 at 02:08 PM
Very cool! I love the first close-up of all the seeds. Nature is certainly beautiful. Thanks for sharing your pictures with all of us :)
Posted by: Jennifer K. | June 13, 2010 at 02:00 PM
I am dizzy from the time warp! Sunflowers won't be blooming here for a while! The photos are GORGEOUS! But, where are the bugs?
Posted by: Shala | June 13, 2010 at 01:42 PM
Well THIS is just a little slice of heaven, ain't it! WOW...I just love it. And the closups, Anna, soooo pretty and clear. Thank you for sharing "date night" with all of us!
Posted by: Leigh O'Brien | June 13, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Really beautiful pictures! Thank you!
Posted by: Lisa Ragano | June 13, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Oh my gosh your photos are AWESOME. The only other time I saw something like that was in Holland during the tulip festival, tulips as far as the eye could see. You must have had a blast in that field. I do love the close ups where you can see the patterns. Nature is beautiful and you capture it for the rest of us to see, thanks for a lovely little Sunday morning cup of coffee.
Posted by: Rose Kerry | June 13, 2010 at 12:16 PM
Sunflowers are my FAVORITE flower......they just make you smile and go "awwwww"!!! I saw a field like this on a motorcycle trip in Colorado...just amazing, as far as you could see!!
Posted by: Carla | June 13, 2010 at 11:42 AM
I've never seen a field of sunflowers. The pictures are amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Anthonette | June 13, 2010 at 11:20 AM
What a sweetie-pie, your Alan must be ... a "date" to a beautiful sunflower field! It's these simple, thoughtful things that our loved ones do for us that will leave us with such wonderful memories. Of course, you have fabulous photos to remind you, too!
Posted by: bonnie weiss | June 13, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Gramma_Dar | June 13, 2010 at 10:51 AM
is there anything you cannot do? your photography is fabulous.... each day if you have a new post I can't wait to see and enjoy whatever you have for us that day.....
Posted by: Harriet | June 13, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Oh, Anna. What a dream date. That field is amazing. Love your shots!
Posted by: Jenn | June 13, 2010 at 10:03 AM
Wow, Wow is what i say. Your pictures are absolutely beautiful. Love visiting your blog to see all the animals and plants you take pictures of.
Carolyn
Posted by: Carolyn | June 13, 2010 at 09:56 AM
Anna, your photos are fantastic. I, too, love Sunflowers. My neighbor across the street will plant them every couple of years. I love seeing the happy faces follow the sun in its trek across the sky. Thanks so much for sharing.
On another note, check out the visitor I had at the bottom of this post
http://creativemomentswithsandy.blogspot.com/2010/05/friendship-card-challenge-and-visitor.html
Now that is a bug!
Posted by: Sandy H | June 13, 2010 at 09:50 AM
Now That's a field of sunflowers!! love the photos!
Posted by: Debbie | June 13, 2010 at 09:15 AM
I really love your pictures! So pretty! I just got some sunflowers for my birthday from my husband. :D
Posted by: Kellie Hopkins | June 13, 2010 at 08:52 AM
Your pictures are just amazing. I am also in love with sunflowers for their mathematical powers! Google sunflowers and Fibonacci sequence and you will discover a whole world of math.
Posted by: Veronica | June 13, 2010 at 08:12 AM
Anna,
My DD loves sunflowers, too. I'm linking her to you blog because I know she will just die over these excellent photos of her favorite flower! I agree, you have the "best dates" - that's a sure sign that he knows you and loves you. It makes me happy to know that.
Hugs!
Posted by: Sharli | June 13, 2010 at 06:43 AM
Wow! I can only imagine how beautiful something like looks! Breathtaking!
Posted by: Michelle | June 13, 2010 at 06:38 AM
Absolutely glorious! I can just see you thrilled to traipse through the field's edge to capture these exquisite beauties with your lens(es). I can also picture your Alan leaning against the truck with a sprig of wheat between his teeth, arms folded a la Clint Eastwood, reveling in watching his favorite freckled girl skip with joy as she danced like a bee around the sunflowers with camera in hand. That field of sunflowers was a mighty nice gift. Alan, you're a good egg.
Posted by: Gabi With An Eye | June 13, 2010 at 05:21 AM
OMG!! How beautiful! I'm a huge fan of sunflowers!! These are the most amazing pictures! Hang on to Allen, he is definitely a KEEPER!!
Posted by: GLENDA BROOKS | June 13, 2010 at 02:48 AM
Thank you thank you thank you for todays post. I too LOVE sunflowers, even have a tattoo of one. This is the most beautiful post AnnA. Just lovely.
May I ask what type of camera you use? you photos are always stunning.
Posted by: Erika Taylor | June 12, 2010 at 11:09 PM
How many seeds does one Sunflower produce? Is that a trick question? I'll take a 500# bag............... Love, Dad
Posted by: DK Wight | June 12, 2010 at 10:54 PM
now wouldn't it be GREAT if they had a "pick your own' like they do with fruit???
Stunning photos..and that hubby of yours is a keeper!!!
Posted by: Sue | June 12, 2010 at 10:41 PM