The Rural Voice, 2001-08, Page 57A5 I planned my gardens this
past spring, I decided I
wanted lots of sunflowers
around our farm. I love the look of
the tall, traditional sunflower, with its
large lemon yellow petals. I selected
the early Russian variety, which
looks magnificent either as a single
flower or as part of a cluster of
sunflowers. And I had decided I
wanted masses of sunflowers. One or
two little packages of seeds just
wouldn't be enough.
I wanted my yards filled with
welcoming golden flowers.
So I placed a larger order with a
seed company. Did I want 150 grams
or 300 grams? Or should I order 350
grams since I wanted so many of the
flowers? Just to be sure I decided on
500 grams. Surely, 1 thought, this
should be enough seeds to give me
the look I was after. It was not until
the package arrived that I discovered
how many seeds came in a 500 gram
package — a lot!
In early May, I started my project
by sprouting some sunflower seeds in
a couple of pots. The seeds grew
quickly and were easily transplanted
into my flower gardens. For good
measure, I planted more sunflower
seeds beside each of these new
shoots: 1 eagerly anticipated the
beauty these little seeds would bring
to our home.
Then I moved on to my vegetable
garden. Surely, I would use up a
good number of the seeds when I
planted a few rows of sunflowers in
my vegetable garden. And I did. But
even after planting three rows, the
bag was still more than half full. I
adapted my plan to include planting
sunflower seeds everywhere outside
where I worked. I was determined to
enjoy a colourful display once
autumn arrived. So I planted seeds in
all six flower gardens, in addition to
the three rows in the vegetable
garden. I planted seeds beside my
mailbox, in some large flowerpots,
along the cedar rail fence, and still, I
had lots of seeds left to sow.
So another idea stuck me. Why
not give some seeds away? The next
time I met a group of friends, I took
each of them a small plastic bag tied
with a ribbon containing -you guessed
it -sunflower seeds. I asked them to
plant them and to think of me when
they had these lovely flowers
blooming in their gardens in the fall.
I found sotne pretty cards adorned
with a sunflower, which became
perfect for my pursuit. In each card, I
NAND SPE
G
Marvin L. Smith
B.Sc.F. (Forestry), R.P.F.
Farm Woodland Specialist
570 Riverview Dr.
Listowel, Ontario N4W 3T7
Telephone: (519) 291-2236
Providing advice and assistance with:
• impartial advice/assistance in selling timber,
including selection of trees and marking
• reforestation of erodible or idle land
• follow-up tending of young plantations
• windbreak planning and establishment
• woodlot management planning
• diagnosis of insect and disease problems
• conducting educational programs in woodlot
management
• any other woodland or tree concerns
54 THE RURAL VOICE
1
wrote a short note to both friends in
my office along with some seeds to
be planted in their gardens. In
another instance, I included seeds
with a birthday card, and another, for
a friend who changed jobs.
Sunflower seeds became even more
fun to give away.
Spontaneously, I wrote a note to a
colleague who works in another city.
I thanked her for all the assistance
she had given me this past year, and I
included a package of seeds with a
lovely card displaying an entire field
of sunflowers. I was most moved by
her response when she told me how
pleased she was to receive the card
and the seeds.
Almost two years previously, her
daughter had died after an illness.
What I didn't know was that
sunflowers had been her daughter's
favourite flower. My colleague told
me she would plant the seeds in a
special spot at her cottage. She and
her husband had already planted
some sunflowers at their home in
memory of their daughter.
Sunflowers were the flower she had
always associated with her daughter.
I had no way of knowing these
flowers were so special to her when I
sent her the seeds.
My plan to enjoy my own gardens
of sunflowers grew only more special
as I gave the seeds away. In the
autumn, the beautiful, stately golden
flowers will stand tall in my gardens
and also in the gardens of my friends.
And it continues to amaze me how
much enjoyment can come from a
package of seeds.
And how many sunflowers do I
have left? Quite a few in fact. Next
year I'll still be planting the extra
seeds and giving away sunflower
seeds all over again — I have the
seeds for it!O