Sunflower Field

Helianthus or Sunflower is a genus of plants comprising about 70 species. There are only three species in South America. All of the remaining species of the Helianthus species are native to North America.

The Sunflower, whose round flower heads, in combination with the ligules, look like the sun. This and other species are cultivated in temperate regions, and some tropical regions, as food crops for humans, cattle, and poultry, and as ornamental plants.

Sunflowers are tall annual or perennial plants that can grow to a height of 120 inches or more. They bear one or more wide flower heads with bright yellow ray florets at the outside and yellow or maroon disc florets inside.

During growth, Sunflowers tilt during the day to face the sun, but stop once they begin blooming. This tracking of the sun in young Sunflower heads is called heliotropism. By the time they are mature, Sunflowers generally face east. The rough and hairy stem is branched in the upper part in wild plants, but is usually unbranched in domesticated cultivars. The leaves are surrated and and often sticky. The lower leaves are typically heart-shaped.

Eastern European countries, such as the Ukraine and Russia, are the top Sunflower producers in the world. They contribute half of the Sunflower seed production globally.

In 2016, Batey Farms had planted an entire field of Sunflowers, which brought throngs of visitors to their farm for photo ops. It was a hugely popular spot that year.

In 2017, I captured these images at Batey Farms in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Batey only planted about 12-15 short rows of Sunflowers last year, and didn't plant any this year, due to over saturated conditions.

Being a huge Sunflower fan, I wanted to put up a post showing all of the best images I could ream from my archives. Last year's Sunflower shoot came up in spades, as all of my favorites came from last year. What is your favorite Sunflower image? Mine is the second image. I love how perfectly the Sun illuminated the Sunflower. I hope you enjoyed this look back. I haven't been able to find any Sunflowers to photograph this Summer. Perhaps Batey will plant another crop next year. Have a wonderful weekend all. Relax, be safe and stay cool as Summer's heat is still upon us. ENJOY!

Linking to Home Link Party

Sunflowers, Batey Farms

Batey Farms is almost an hour from Hendersonville in Murfreesboro, here in middle Tennessee, as the locals call it so it was a trek, but I was aptly rewarded. The Sunflowers were in full bloom at the farm. The huge field they planted didn't make it through the rainy Spring, but about ten rows of Sunflowers did. I arrived right when the Sun was directly overhead giving me the best light of the day. Don't you just love when that happens. I love the huge green leaves that accompany each Sunflower.

Have you ever wondered how many Sunflower seeds each flower yields. No doubt the farmers can answer that question, but I haven't a clue. To think these gorgeous flowers bring such beauty to our world and to top it off give us delicious Sunflower seeds too. Isn't Mother Nature amazing.

Of the 200 some images I captured today, these are my favorites I am sharing. I love close ups of Sunflowers the most. One beautiful large Sunflower bloom is all I need to satify my thirst for the Sunflower, but I still tried to capture some images of numerous flowers. This is one of my favorites.

The heat and humidity today wasn't nearly to the degree of the past week which made being out in the middle of the Sunflower field a tad bit more bearable, although it was still hot. I hope you are staying cool here in the States with this 'heat wave' in full swing and no relief on the horizon. For those of you down South in the throws of a snowy Winter, stay warm. ENJOY!

Flowers at Madison Creek Farms

Oh, Summer how art thou! I am so happy to see you have finally arrived in my part of the world.

With warm, sunny days and bright blue skies filled with fluffy white clouds drifting aimlessly.

The bees buzzing, the butterflies flitting and the beautiful flowers blooming in the gardens.

Just a quick post of one of the flower images I captured today at Madison Creek Farm in Goodlettsville. Their gardens were buzzing feverishly with tons of bees feasting on Zinnias and Sunflowers and Poppies. I lost my light as a weather front was moving in, but wanted to share this image as I especially liked the composition. ENJOY!

Sunflower Portrait

I captured this image last year in early August at Batey Farms in Murfreesboro. Sadly, I missed the Sunflowers they had this year. Last year you could walk throughout the field any time and take photos. This year they charged for folks taking portraits and only had one day folks could come by to photograph the fields. I hate it that they took all the fun out of it, but it's a working farm, so I guess you can't blame them. Besides just seeing a huge field of Sunflowers from afar is reward in itself. ENJOY!

Water Lilies, Murfree Spring Wetlands

There's a change in the air. Can you feel it. Here in the South cooler weather is finding its way into our daylight hours, while evenings begin to shorten and a coolness envelopes the night air. I will welcome Fall as it grows closer. Summer's dog days of heat will soon vanish replaced with a change of season. Emerging colors of crimson, orange and various hues of yellow will brighten the landscape.

Fall pumpkins already grace the local markets. Soon Fall decorations in every shape and size will follow. Pumpkins, gourds and bittersweet, along with scarecrows, stacks of corn, harvest moons and pumpkin rides. After a record setting heat this Summer, I am eager for the change in the season.

Leaving the Sunflowers at Batey Farms after a brief stop, I drove over to visit the wetlands, just as the rain was diminishing. The Water Lilies were turned in for the evening. The humidity was heavy. A lone female Wood Duck was milling around in the swamp picking through the pond weeds. I would have captured a better image so I could share, but my long lens was at home. ENJOY!

A Simple Sunflower

Is there anything more gorgeous than a beautiful yellow Sunflower?

Despite the raindrops, I captured a few more images of the Sunflowers at Batey Farms today. Some of the Sunflowers were fading and others hung over from the rain. But all in all, it was still a beautiful sight. ENJOY!

Sunflowers, Batey Farms

After spending the afternoon leading a great group of folks on our first outing together at Murfree Spring Wetlands, I stopped to grab a bite to eat at Parthenon Grille in Murfreesboro. I chose to sit at a table next to the bar. I struck up a conversation with a young couple sitting at the bar about the outdoors. They mentioned their 14 foot Sunflowers they had planted this year. After showing me a photo of just what they were describing, I realized these had to be the tallest Sunflowers I had ever seen in my life. I asked them if they knew of any Sunflower fields close by.

These beautiful images are just a few close ups of the Sunflowers I captured upon following the couple's directions to what has to be the most gorgeous Sunflower field I have ever laid eyes on. Seriously, words could not describe it. Batey Farms decided to plant what has to be at least 50 acres of Sunflowers. It was surreal to pull up and see this enormous field of Sunflowers that seemingly went on forever right before me.

I wasn't sure who to thank more, the couple at the bar, or the Batey Family for planting such a gorgeous plot of Sunflowers. As a side note, I saw more tripods floating around in that field of Sunflowers than I think I will ever see again in my lifetime, and who could blame them. I want to go back to capture some images when the light isn't quite so harsh but it will have to be quick or the Sunflowers will be gone. Thankfully, the temperatures weren't in the mid 90's as they have been for weeks. So it made for a pretty good day to be outdoors in the sun. ENJOY!

Maximilian Sunflower, Bison Meadow

In the middle of a suburban neighborhood just south of Nashville, sits a two and a half acre plot of land known as The Bison Meadow. This meadow was set aside and preserved for its historical importance by a Tennessee Bicentennial Project back in 1994. The Bison Meadow is a terminal branch of the Old Natchez Trace. This 'old Indian path' was followed not only by Indians and pioneers, but also by buffalo, elk and other large animals who crossed through on their way to a salt lick near the Cumberland River.

The meadow has a variety of tall grasses, shrubs and a much wider variety of wildflowers that grow throughout the year. There is a path carved through the meadow. However, I only managed about a ten minute walk on it before I surrendered to my car. The heat index is unbearable. I did snap several images, one of which was of this Maximilian Sunflower. The Maximilian Sunflowers were plentiful throughout the entire meadow and were growing at heights of at least ten feet or higher. I cannot wait for the heat to break so I can spend more time outdoors. I hope your weather is better wherever you are. I have thought often of the Chattanooga terrorism victims who lost their lives this past week, as well as their families. Chattanooga is a little over a hundred miles south of Nashville. The terrorist worked in Franklin which is a town just south of Nashville and one I often frequent. God can only make sense of these terrorist attacks. I know I cannot. ENJOY!

Autumn Changes

As the weather cools and nights grow longer, 

the flowers and plants at Yew Dell Gardens will wither and die,

Fall sets in bringing with it a chill and then a frost,

One final hoorah brings leaves of bright reds and yellows, 

And finally, as though in protest, they fall away to the earth.

The sunflowers have wilted and hang dead from their stalks.

The last remains of the pumpkins and ghourds in the garden lay as though forgotten.

The Black Eyed Susans bright yellow pedals are dried and crusty.

Fear not dear friends,
for as Autumn passes through to Winter,
children wonder the lanes gathering candies to eat on All Hallowed's Eve,

tables will be set in earnest with Thanksgiving meals,

Christmas parties will take place throughout the community,

New Year's Eve brings champagne flowing and crystal balls to drop,

the frivolity of the holiday season will prevail. ENJOY!

Sunflower's Bounty

Summer's end brings many changes as Autumn takes hold.

As I walked among the trees, the shrubs, the plants, the flowers and the gardens of Yew Dell Gardens in Crestwood on Sunday, I was reminded of Summer, but also of what is to come with this new season. The plants and flowers were beginning to show signs of want. I lingered among the tall stalks seeking to capture the moment. ENJOY!

SUNFLOWERS . . .

Sunflowers stood tall in a small garden patch.

Flowers hung heavy on lanky stalks.

Leaves dried and brittle.

Blooms devoid of color.

Seeds the only proof of life.

Sunflower Study

As I made my way to my local nursery a few weeks ago, got out of my car and turned around, two long perfectly planted rows of Sunflowers stood ready to greet me. Each Sunflower plant growing tall as though its blooms might one day reach the heavens. Lovingly each bloom faced the sun longing for more life. Each beautiful yellow flower, many with bees buzzing in and out, stood soaking up the sun.

As I made my way to the end of the row, I slowly walked around behind the flowers. While doing so, I looked up to see this. As beautiful as the Sunflower bloom itself was this beautiful scene. A perfect circle of bright yellow pedals, a single long green stem and multiple large green leaves. Holding strong to Mother Earth this plant stood firm giving life to the beautiful Sunflower bloom it held. Its intricate detail too beautiful to ignore. At least in my eyes. ENJOY!

Tuscany Perhaps

Where was this image taken I ask you? Tuscany perhaps? That's what I like most about an image, you just never know where you are. So you must 'look' closely. And as it happens in this photo, when you look closely, you will see it's in the trees and the lamp posts. Those trees alone are not indicative of Tuscany.



Last summer I traveled to North Carolina to visit a very famous estate, Biltmore. I wasn't sure of everything I would find there. Yes, I knew there was a famous house and, after much surfing the net, I discovered the estate also had hiking trails and a lake, and a farm.

As I drove along the road in August, after spending considerable time viewing the famous Biltmore house and its conservatory, I happened upon this scene, a field of sunflowers. Growing, for what seemed like miles and miles alongside the road, I discovered rows and rows of beautiful, bright sunflowers. I felt as though I were in the heart of Tuscany. Stretching out past the rows and rows of sunflowers were more fields, and far off in the distance, country roads disappearing into the landscape. Tuscany.

I stopped for some time alongside the rows and rows of sunflowers and attempted to capture the beauty of this scene in various compositions. All the while, as I snapped photo after photo, I felt as if I were deep in the heart of Italy. And today, after perusing my vast archive of images, comprised of varying trips across America, digging deep to find an image for this post, I stopped at this one. And I felt that same feeling today as I did then. Tuscany perhaps. ENJOY!

Please Indulge Me!

I can't help myself. I took so many different photographs of the sunflowers and the sunflower fields while at Biltmore in August Here's another view. I think I have a love affair going on with these beautiful flowers. How can one not? They are so sunny and happy. And with all the rainy days around here of late, who can blame me for another "sunny" post. Have a great weekend everyone. ENJOY!

Sunflower Power!

Today at Bernheim. I'll post more photos from my walk at Bernheim this week. Stay cool. Enjoy!