I can’t see a sunflower without smiling, it happens every time…

Each year, I grow them from seed and plant them at the front of the house. Always a great welcome home sight.

I have seen fields of sunflowers in Europe, however, never the UK. This year, I ‘googled’ where they were grown in this country. There was no definite answers and a 3 hours drive each way on the off chance was not viable. So, I couldn’t believe my luck a few weeks ago. I was driving a few miles from home and saw this sea of yellow smiles – a field of sunflowers in their full glory. Out came the trusty Nikon, and several more visits to watch, admire and shoot until my heart was content.

Helianthus or sunflower derives from Greek ήλιος and hēlios, ‘sun’ and ανθός, hanthos, ‘flower’. The common sunflower is an annual species grown as a crop for edible oil and fruits – sunflower seeds. The plant was first domesticated in the Americas. The seeds were brought to Europe from the there in the 16th century, where, they and became a widely used cooking ingredient.

I hope you enjoy my photographs and they make you smile too.