Sunday Sunflowers

It was some weeks ago that we first heard about this lovely flower farm which specializes in tulips in the Spring and sunflowers in the Summer.

We have been waiting impatiently for the crop to be ready and the farm has just opened for visiting/picking - although with only a fraction of the flowers yet in bloom.  

The bees were showing their appreciation of the flowers and the sunshine.  The farm also sells honey and it was clear and very dark golden, I wonder if sunflower honey has a distinct flavour?

Come to think about it, I didn't sniff any of the flowers (which is probably irrelevant as I have a cold anyway). I just assumed they didn't have a scent.

There were many different varieties - apparently a mixed planting of a million seeds in more than thirty varieties.  No wonder the bees are happy!

Many families were there gathering the blooms ($1.50 each).  

Later in the season we will go back to try to find and buy some that have matured enough on the plant to have seed for the birds.  For now we just enjoyed looking at all of the different flowers and at the other insects that were enjoying them too..

David took this photo of a large Chinese Praying Mantis.  An impressive and very calm beast!

Others were more conventionally beautiful..