Sunil Right by the bird bath and seed feeder, in soil that is heavy clay, continually moist, has added rocket fuel (in the form of bone meal, Growmore and manure) and also happens to be in full sun; grows a sunflower. Given where it’s situated, it has almost certainly been planted there by a little bird. There are a couple of others about the garden that have also been planted by little birds (or perhaps by the same one), but this one is special. It’s special because it’s the only one with giant leaves well over a foot long.
Although it’s not overly tall, it’s still a behemoth and since the seed could be from the feeder or from the sunflowers I grew last year, it could be any variety. The sheer size of this thing compared to that of the bird that planted it makes for an amusing thought. I’m looking forward to this one flowering as I wonder if the flower head will be the size of a serving platter!
6 comments
Isn’t anticipation wonderful?
Hi Carolyn, yes it is – I’d been staring at these flowers as buds for what seemed like months. I thought they were just going to stay as buds until the winter arrived and then they’d die, but thankfully they finally coloured and opened, right after we had a hot weekend.
It’s like Jack & the Beanstalk a little, with the bird being Jack. (Does that make you the giant? Surely not.) Part of me is always a little put out when a bird entirely by accident manages to grow something I’d have labored over with half as much success; on the other hand, it’s a relief to know that plants really do want to grow and probably will — especially given enough rocket fuel!
Hi Stacy, I’m definitely not the giant as that sunflower’s now taller than I am! I think having moist soil and a whole load of manure put in has helped somewhat. I just can’t get over the size of the leaves and they’re not fragile either, we’ve had torrentially heavy rain several times today and there’s no damage, the leaves have just brushed the rain right off. I can’t wait for this thing to flower, I just hope the flowerhead is in proportion with the rest of the plant!
What fun! I hope you’ll show us the flower(s) when it blooms.
Hi Jean, unless something disastrous happens I’ll be putting up a picture of it, with approximate measurements if I remember.