Why?
Partly because I still have some photos (these, and many more) which I've never shown you and I think you might like them. And also because the days are beginning to get longer here in the northern hemisphere and that makes me think of summer's flowers following the sun.
These images are of three kinds of sunflowers. One smaller blossom was doing quite well when I snapped it in September but the large-headed classic sunflower was beginning to show signs of season's end. The tall-growing Jerusalem Artichoke only begins blooming in mid September so they were very much in their prime. I hope you enjoy this cheery splash of yellow.
And the yellow sunflower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood. ~ William Cullen Bryant
With zealous step he climbs the upland lawn,
And bows in homage to the rising dawn;
Imbibes with eagle eye the golden ray,
And watches, as it moves, the orb of day.
~ Erasmus Darwin
But one, the lofty follower of the Sun,
Sad when he sets, shuts up her yellow leaves
Drooping all night; and, when he warm returns,
Points her enamoured bosom to his ray.
~ James Thomson
The author O. Henry taught me about the value of the unexpected. He once wrote about the noise of flowers and the smell of birds - the birds were chickens and the flowers dried sunflowers rattling against a wall.
~ Chuck Jones
The gaudy leonine sunflower
Hangs black and barren on its stalk
And down the windy garden walk
The dead leaves scatter - hour by hour
~ Oscar Wilde
We're All Golden Sunflowers Inside.
~ Allen Ginsberg
Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men and animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock.
~ Henry Ward Beecher
Light-enchanted sunflower, thou
Who gazest ever true and tender
On the sun's revolving splendour.
~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do.
~ Helen Keller
As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets,
The same look which she turn'd when he rose.
~ Thomas Moore
