Sunflowers and Moon

My neighbor Bill is in his mid eighties. He spends most of his days gardening accompanied by his trusty dog Allie.

The other morning as I left for work he beckoned to me.

"Would you mind taking a picture of me with my sunflowers?" He asked. " I want to send them to my kids so they can see how big they grew this year."


Bill in his garden knee pads and gloves.

To his right and out of view there were some not quite as tall, but so large that the stalk could no longer bear the weight. This enormous head was bowing to the earth in heavy seed. It won't be long before the finch will invade his garden in a feeding frenzy of song and winged acrobatics.


This flower was at least one foot across.

That evening we drove about 17 miles out of town where I noticed the moon rising above the golden wheat fields and the mountain foothills.

And it's only just a reflection!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Those are absolutely gorgeous. My mom used to tell me when she was young she saw fields full of sunflowers. One of her favorite flowers. Now I can imagine what she saw.

Take care,
Connie
katy said…
wow i cant beleive the size, a foot accross, that is truly amazing
DesLily said…
wow! Does he collect and back the sunflower seeds?? (or do the birds get them all?)

80 and still gardening! I wish my back would let me garden again..sigh
Peter said…
Hi Pamela, those sun flowers are the biggest I've ever seen... and we grow a lot of them in Australia.
Masago said…
Amazing on all fronts!
Debs said…
Oh what a great pic and huge sunflowers. Tell him he did a beautiful job.
Anonymous said…
Look at those!!!!

I would love to have those in my neighborhood!!!!!

I think I love Bill.
Susie said…
I hope my Bill is still gardening in his mid eighties! Those sunflowers are something to see!!
Our moon didn't look like that here as there were lots of clouds!
xo
Anonymous said…
Love the moon picture. Fills my heart to see those hills...isn't that wild?
Coffeypot said…
Where do you live that you have a neighbor 3" tall? The pic of the moon is very beautiful. Perfect caption, too.
Heather said…
Those are great pics.
There's a story brewing in that first pic.
Heather Plett said…
I LOVE that picture of Bill and his sunflowers! Makes me think of my dad!
Shelby said…
finished my storeyette - thanks for all the inspiration!!! it was quite fun :)
Anonymous said…
Beautiful photos. Your neighbour with his flowers so that his children can see them. I love it. And especially that huge one. Amazing.

I love love love the one with the moon. I'm always trying to take pictures of the moon, but they never turn out the way I want. That one is truly striking.
M@ said…
That would be so impressive if Bill wasn't just five inches tall.
PAT said…
Wow, these are amazing! We used to grow sunflowers in our little patch of a garden, at the farm...none like this, though!

Gorgeous photos!

Pat
ChrisB said…
Wow those are some size. How brilliant to be gardening like that in his 80's no wonder he wanted his photo taken.
Amazing photos, as always. And I have NEVER seen a sunflower so big!!!!

Unless Bill is deceptively short.
Anonymous said…
I love that picture of Bill. So. much.
Tiggerlane said…
How cool is Bill - impressive! Love the shot of the moon...of course, I've noticed the full moon making people crazy here lately.
Carole Burant said…
Omigosh look at them sunflowers!!! He sure knows how to grow them! lol WOW! Your local newspaper should be contacted about this and he should be on their front page:-) Not too often you get to see such huge sunflowers!! That moon picture is fabulous! xoxo
Amanda said…
Bill is an impressive specimen, I tell you what. I can only pray that I am so self-sufficient when I'm that age. (If I make it that long.) Those are beautiful sunflowers.
Beckie said…
Those are HUGE sunflowers!!
Anonymous said…
Pamela That is soo nice. thanks for posting the Sunflowers and the Moon. You are surely a good neighbor. I had an aunt that could paint and wall paper her house at 85. Rose
Anonymous said…
Wow!! The sunflowers are amazing. Don't think I've ever seen any that tall. Beautiful picture of the wheat fields, mountains and moon.
Anonymous said…
OMG those are huge!!!!

so cool

btw getting better by order of mom... thank you and hugs
Kila said…
Wow, good job, Bill! You deserve a blue ribbon.
Anonymous said…
I can't believe how tall those sunflowers are! I didn't know that the flower follows the sun. My daughter told me this when she saw these photos.
my4kids said…
wow those are huge! Especially when you compare with him standing in front.
Racheal Miles said…
Oh my god, those sunflowers are so big!
I just found your blog and I really like, I will be visiting again.
Racheal x
Hazel said…
I hope I am still gradening when I'm 80... & I have a nice neighbor who will take my picture.
Judypatooote said…
What a nice post....boy he sure does have a lot of sunflowers... you took a great picture... they should attract every bird and squirrel in town.....
Donetta said…
Bill is an inspiration! Community is a true gift. I am so glad you enjoy it with Bill.
Donetta
theotherbear said…
I don't know how I missed this post earlier. They are fabulous.
AngelConradie said…
i love both those pictures!
Anonymous said…
I wish I was a neighbor to you and Bill...

Beautiful, beautiful pics. All of them.

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