SUNFLOWERS

The view from my rocker on the back porch in early morn is a delight. I see the blue, blue sky with wispy clouds. I see the dew on the grass. I see bees buzzing about the garden. But it is the sunflowers bending over my fence and nodding their big yellow heads that really catch my eye. It will soon be fall and their heads will become heavy and droopy and the seeds will burst forth as the butterflies, birds, and bugs enjoy their nectar and seeds.

They are a curious flower for they enjoy having their faces baked by the sun as they follow it throughout the day. In the early morn, they face due east. They are waiting for the sun to come over the mountain and shine on their yellow faces. As the sun moves across the sky, the flower's face will follow. At midday, the flower is due south. They continue to follow the sun to the west until sunset. As the evening shadows fall, the sunflowers turn their faces back to the east. I believe they are waiting for the sun to rise again the next day.

My thoughts turn to my grandmother's sun hat which reminded me of a sunflower. It had a large brim which shaded her face and shoulders. She wore it as she picked raspberries from her garden. The crown of the hat always seemed to face the sun, just as a sunflower, as she embraced its shade. What joy the view from my rocker brings me from the early morn to the last bit of light at night. And at sunrise the next day, just as the sunflower, I am ready to enjoy the warmth of the sun once again on my face.