Sunflower Investigation

There is something so incredible about giants of the garden and even a small space is the perfect size for a few mammoth sunflowers to tower over you, attract pollinators and spread joy (not to mention pollen and seeds...). Last year was the first time I ever planted these jolly giants. When they had finished their glorious reign in our front garden, we brought the heads in to dissect and explore. We saved hundreds of seeds. Seeds to share. Seeds to save. Seeds to plant again this spring and sunflower season has officially hit. Our blooms are gracing our garden in various shades and sizes. Some blooms were prime for cutting and gracing our Shabbos table last week. As those began to fade, I decided they should make a final stop before the compost heap--to two curious horticulturalists in training!





We've explored sunflowers here before and S in particular remembers dissecting the large flower heads last year. Both of the boys love to look outside each morning and note which buds have blossomed and how many bees are on the centers of our opened flowers. (We counted 4 bees on one today after a rainfall!)

Even a goldfinch blessed us with a well camouflaged visit to one of our sunflowers last week!

And when it comes to learning about plants and garden life, there are so many books and directed activities. My favorite way, however, is to get hands on and dig right in.

There is something so wondrous about standing below a giant flower and looking up at a leaf that is bigger than my head. There is something so amazing about a flower opening up after months of waiting and watching. It lasts comparatively as long as the blink of an eye. The center of the sunflower houses hundreds of tiny little flowers and behind those, hundreds of tiny little seeds--that given the best of circumstances and luck will perhaps one day bloom into another jolly giant of the garden. But until then, we have these early days of August. A wistful and whimsical time. The garden is in harvest. The sun is still hot and it's the peak of summer. But mornings and nights begin to cool a bit. School supply lists are arriving and Fall is around the corner. So we savor the sunlight just a little bit longer and play just a little bit harder to squeeze every last drop out of these summer days at home. And the garden follows us wherever we go. In the front yard, out the back door to the back yard. In the kitchen, in the playroom, in the mud caked on to our garden clogs. This is summer! And admittedly, the play residue is all around us. Cleaning up is maybe not the first priority with all three Sprout Scouts at home with me each day. But it starts to look almost like a work of art after a while, reminding me that we were here. We played until we were carried in like footballs, screaming and kicking and covered in mud and sand and who knows what else, because no matter how many nights we've done it, bedtime is always a surprise...

So head out to your own garden. Deadhead your flowers without fear or remorse, because before those wilting blooms head to the composter and return to the earth, there are young horticulturalists at play. Ready to dissect. Ready to observe. Ready to grind and pour and mix into fairy tea and sunflower soup. Come take a peek in our own little whimsical world of wonder as we carry our sunflowers on one final journey, perhaps in a football hold, screaming and kicking and covered in pollen, because no matter how many years they have bloomed and wilted, the compost heap is always a surprise!

Sunflower Investigation

Gather some trays, bowls, mortars and pestles, tweezers, magnifying glasses, scissors and sunflowers...it's time to investigate and explore!

If you're feeling especially ambitious and brave, I encourage you to add water, mix some sunflower paint, try pounding the petals into paper or fabric...

Or take it outside and open up your own Sunflower Garden Tea House...

Sunflowers, coneflowers and even cut herbs made their way to the picnic table, ready for action...

...and here's some action now! Y is busy measuring and pouring water and plants parts into the perfect pot of tea...

Just add water! The sensory table was filled and some dishes and flowers were ready for tea time...

S wanted to clip some oregano to add to his soup

C had such a blast watching the excitement. She is so happy to be in the garden with us!

S is busy washing and collecting herbs for his grill and his soup stock...

Y is helping to wash herbs and flowers as well. 

S cuts some freshly harvested oregano...

We finally made it inside (I bribed them with a smoothie) and Tatty is home, so I headed out to tidy up a bit before the pending storm. And that's when I find the most beautiful bits of play residue. A bowl with just a bit of water Y poured in, a silver spoon, a measuring cup and a 1/2 teaspoon along with some fresh cut mint and lemon thyme and lemon balm...

...and just a few remnants of those jolly golden garden giants, mid-grind in our mortar and pestle... 

Happy summer, happy gardening, happy harvesting and, as always....

Happy Playing!