Sunflowers 2010

Every year it's a struggle to decide what to plant in my garden. Each year I try some different things. I really enjoy the back breaking part of the garden. The turning the beds over, the planting, and the initial tending. By the time July/August rolls around I've had what I wanted out of the garden (except the produce). Now it's september, and the garden is wrapping up, I consider again what the point is.

Well, my big success this year was my sunflowers. I planted a row of them and they all grew. Grew so well in fact, over 12 feet tall some of them. They were so beautiful following the sun and just enjoying things. We even got real honey bees that really enjoyed them. In the end, they were the best plants. they didn't need watering, they didn't need weeding, and they were all successful.

I didn't know how to harvest them, but Colleen shared a link that said to cut them, hang them, and cover them with a bag so the seeds could just fall off. So that's what I did.

Next step, to separate the hulls from the seeds and make some sunflowerseed butter. I'm not sure how many jars I'll be able to make, but I've promised one to Colleen.

I think next year I might plant more. Perhaps lining the whole yard.