I’m a firm believer in one of the following two clichés:
- Variety is the spice of life.
- Familiarity breeds contempt.
Can you guess which one?
Emerging Sunflower, 2013
Sunflower, 2012
Sunflower going to seed, 2011
Hope blooms from a packet of seeds
Did you guess?
I love the variety a garden affords. When you live and play in California soil, variety abounds. That said, I have three garden favorites that appear year after year: pumpkins, tomatoes and sunflowers.
My top three favorites never breed contempt. For over a decade now, sunflowers make the list. One tiny seed leads to a magnificent flowering plant, growing a majestic 5 – 12 feet (1.5 to 4 meters) or more. As they grow, they attract beneficial insects. They’re a huge favorite with the bees. Sunflowers produce a mass of seeds which we generally ‘offer’ the squirrels at season’s end. The bright yellow flower is my favorite anyway, so I’m happy to share the remaining spoils.
How about you: variety, familiarity or a little of both?
Sunflowers, 2013
Gardening Nirvana 