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Evie Kirkwood
The New York State Fair closes Labor Day weekend, and that makes me nostalgic for sunflowers. My mother got me interested in flower arranging while I was in elementary school, and each year we competed in the state fair.
Mom pushed the stuffy limits of traditional floral displays. The judges either loved or hated her work. The one they hated most was her entry in the class titled “Teen Party.” Cola bottles served as the container, and hula hoops and bold sunflowers filled the display niche.
Sunflowers? The tweed-suited judges turned up their noses. No one dared enter an arrangement with sunflowers before. The judges bestowed a white ribbon, for fifth and last place.
Today, sunflowers are fun and fashionable additions in home gardens and decor. A couple summers ago, Krystin Hildebrant and Clark Niemitalo pondered their 1,800-square foot garden at Bonneyville Mill County Park in Bristol. According to Krystin, “it didn’t do well the year before; plus it was so much to weed.”
Clark suggested putting half the garden in sunflowers, because they are big, crazy and colorful. They chose the Mammoth variety, a popular giant.
Since Krystin works in the park, she knows that sunflowers attract attention. Once a couple asked which of her garden plants were grown from seeds or starts. “They couldn't believe the 14-foot tall forest of sunflowers had grown from seeds,” said Krystin.
High Energy Flowers
Sunflowers are a bonanza for insects and birds. One sunflower head is actually hundreds of flowers loaded with nectar. A member of the composite family, the center of the head is a mass of small “tube” flowers. If pollinated, each forms a seed.
The bright yellow petals aren’t really petals at all. Each is a flower in its own right. These “ray” flowers have flat blades, resembling petals on other simple flowers. In October, after the “petals” fade, birds cash in on the ripe treasure of fat-rich seeds.
If you didn’t grow your own sunflowers, check farm markets and roadside stands to purchase some for a lively end-of-summer bouquet. Your “judges” (whether family or guests) will enjoy the cheer they bring to your table.
Family Activity: Make a Cheery Paper Plate Sunflower
For each sunflower, you’ll need the following:
- 6-inch yellow paper plate (or paint a white plate yellow)
- 1 pkg small brown pom-poms
- Craft glue
- Scissors
- To make the petals, cut 1 ½-inch slits all the way around the paper plate. Round off the petals with your scissors.
- In the center of the plate, make a large solid circle of glue. Use plenty so the pom-poms will stick. Start at the center and work your way outward with the pom-poms until the center of the flower is filled.
- When it’s dry, hang your sunflower in a window. Put several on your refrigerator!
For a bird-friendly version
Add a small amount of cold water to a heaping tablespoon of flour. Stir the mixture until it is thick and creamy. Spread it in a circle on the paper plate. Press real sunflower seeds (raw, in the shell) into the flour mixture, and set the sunflower plate feeder outside for birds to enjoy!
