Terra's Garden
Monthly Column by Terra Hangen

“Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.”
-Song of Solomon 2:12

When sunflowers are blooming and doves are cooing in our gardens, all seems right in the world. Sunflowers look pretty in the garden, come in colors ranging from yellow to bronze and maroon, grow readily from seed, make striking bouquets, and birds love them. Why not add some to your garden this spring? These are ideal flowers for beginners, and if you are already a fan of sunflowers, I have some suggestions for new varieties you can try. 

You do not need expert skill to grow sunflowers since they are easy to grow from seed planted directly in your garden, and the sprouts are sturdy. Their one need is expressed in their name: they demand a sunny spot, and appreciate not having their roots in soggy soil. 

Sunflowers are no longer just the yellow flowers we recall from our mother’s gardens, and now happily run the gamut of colors from yellow to bronze, and white and red. You can start with 6 packs of seedlings from your local plant store, and I suggest that you plan ahead a bit and buy seeds too, since you can select from a vastly wider array of varieties. The seeds sprout and grow very reliably, and are so inexpensive that it’s great to start from seeds. 

For a fun project with children, set them to work planting sunflowers. Have them clear a sunny spot, poke a finger in the dirt to make a hole one inch deep, and pop in a seed. Children love the short varieties like Teddy Bear, and the tall variety called Kong. 

Sunflowers have gone beyond yellow into white, orange, gold, darkening to bronze and the deepest of maroon, with some being bi-colored. Heights range from 2 feet to 14 feet, with some varieties reaching 20 feet. Most gardeners stay in the 2 foot to 7 foot range, but dare to be bold if that is your desire. 

For saving the seeds from your mature flowers let the seeds dry on the plant. Birds will notice the seeds, and begin to eat them, unless you cover the seed head with cheesecloth or a paper bag. When firm the seeds can be removed by rubbing them. You can then save them to plant next spring, or enjoy eating them raw as a snack or in salads. If you choose to roast them, just place the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet, in a 325 degree oven for about 10 minutes, checking them after five minutes. Don’t overcook and when done, they are ready to eat, or toss them in a tablespoon of tamari sauce or sprinkle them with salt. 

One delightful seed pack is “Sunflower Ornamental Blend” from Botanical Interests. These organic certified seeds bloom late summer to fall, grow 4 feet to 7 feet tall, and the pack contains 4 kinds: Velvet Queen, Autumn Beauty, Lemon Queen and Indian Blanket. Another striking sunflower they offer is Vanilla Ice, a four to seven foot tall plant with flowers displaying creamy white petals, perfect for bouquets. Botanical Interests is a small family-owned company, and their seeds can be purchased at local plant stores and from Garden Trails at www.gardentrails.com. 

Teddy Bear sunflowers reach a mere 2 feet in height and are as cute as a little bear, with fluffy yellow petals on six inch across flowers. For seeds visit www.ferry-morse.com or call 800-283-3400. Burpee Company sells 31 types of sunflowers including Sunflower Kong hybrid, which shoots up to 14 feet and Chianti hybrid with stunning wine red velvet petals flecked with gold, and flowers up to 4 inches across. These seeds can be purchased at www.burpee.com or toll free at 800 888-1447.

Sunflowers are happy flowers and will reward a little effort by you with many gorgeous blooms creating a glorious garden and perfect flowers for bouquets. I recommend that you leave some in the garden so birds will eat the seeds in autumn, and put on an acrobatic show for you, as their way of saying thanks.

About the Author: For more of Terra Hangen's garden tidbits, fun garden photos of her black squirrel friend, tips for beginning writers, and a glimpse into her own journey as a writer visit her blog at http://terragarden.blogspot.com. She is celebrating the publication of her first book, Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts, written with 6 Christian writer friends, and scheduled for publication Oct. 2008 by Leafwood Publishers.