What's Your Favorite?

Hi everyone,

I started to write that there's not a lot happening around here but then I got to thinking of all the things we've been doing lately. I'll have to organize it all in my head and post about it another time. Today I want to tell you about my flowers. I'm probably more excited about them than I should be.  :)

Beth and I continue to do our grocery shopping every Thursday. She's trying to make better choices, some days are better than others.

When we bought our first home back in the early 90's I grabbed some sunflower seeds off the shelf without really looking at the small print. I planted them in the front of the house and they - kept - growing! That's when I looked at the package. I had bought Mammoth Sunflowers! I couldn't believe how big they were. Somewhere I have a picture of a squirrel hanging upside down on one of those flowers, eating the seeds with his two front paws. Those flowers were amazing and we still talk about them today.

Sunflowers are my favorite flower and I grew them for years. These were along the front porch:

Then when we moved into our second home in 2001 I planted them in the backyard against the house:

Then a few years ago I had planted some right where these are, just like I always had. Even after all those years of planting, I would still go out almost every day to check them and I'd get so excited when I saw the little stems about an inch tall. And then one day the stems were gone! I was shocked! I didn't know what had happened. The next year I planted more and saw the wild bunnies eating them! I remember being so crushed.

After that I tried planting them and covering them with mesh, chicken wire, but the bunnies always got to them first. So I eventually stopped trying. It's been a while but this year I decided to try again.

I put them in a pot this time, and only planted a few just in case they didn't survive. I surrounded that pot like a fortress and watched those flowers like a hawk! Then a couple weeks ago I looked out the window to see these beautiful flowers:

 I brought the biggest one inside:

And I took some to work. Every time I look at them they make me smile. There's just something about sunflowers.

Do you have a favorite flower?