Saturday, September 21, 2013

Sunflowers: From Farm to Feeder

The late sunflower crops are in bloom, and this year Longwood Gardens has a beautiful expanse of yellow along Route 1 on the west side of the "new" stretch of Route 52 north. On Sunday afternoon there were a dozen cars parked along the road. Families were wandering through the field, and I saw a photographer struggling under the weight of a giant tripod and all kinds of gear.
This coming Sunday, Sept. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. there's going to be a celebration at another sunflower field: the Brandywine Valley Association's Myrick Conservation Center on Route 842. The seeds from the sunflowers grown at the BVA are sold as birdfeed at the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Hockessin.
Charles Shattuck, owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited, sent me this email: "We’re repeating a program that was a huge success last year. You get to meet the people behind the locally grown sunflowers. You’ll learn how this partnership between a farmer, business owner and a nature center works to the benefit of all involved. Jamie Hicks is the farmer, Charles Shattuck is the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited and Jim Jordan is the Director of the Myrick Center. There will be hay rides, games, refreshments and you get to pick your own sunflower."
Call the BVA to register, 610-793-1090. The fee is $8 for nonmembers and $5 for members.

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