Poetry Friday: A Tale of Sunflowers
Matt at Radio, Rhythm, and Rhyme is our host today. Hop on over there for the roundup.
A Tale of Sunflowers
I’ve been trying to grow sunflowers all summer long. We started them outside from seed, and the birds ate all of the seeds. We bought a few seedlings from the nursery. Within a few days, the deer had reduced them to little stubs. In a last ditch effort to have sunflowers, I grew them from seeds inside and planted about 15 seedlings in a tiny patch. Then I surrounded the patch with a fully enclosed bean trellis.
All of my seedlings had buds! And then I woke up one morning and every single one had been nibbled down to stubs again. I guess the deer stuck their heads through the trellis and chomped.
In the last week, a couple more buds have appeared, and I have a few sad little sunflowers.
It’s not what I wanted, but it’s something. I’ll take all of the tips for keeping the deer from eating the sunflowers. Encasing them in chicken wire?
Haiku of the Week
like the sun
grasshopper seeks
sunflower’s face
Haiku & Photo © 2023 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: July 29, 2023 at Burnside Farms
Haiku Written: September 5, 2023
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What I’m Reading
by Wendy Williams
Definitely not a poetry book, but a fascinating nonfiction book! I’m listening to this one on audio.
What I’m Noticing (or Eating)
Our very own Poetry Friday pal, Rose Capelli, came to my neck of the woods. We met last Friday night for Persian food and the only picture I got was of this delicious saffron ice cream. It was divine (and not too sweet)! With apologies that we didn’t get a picture together.
30 Comments
Tracey Kiff-Judson
Marcie, I love your purple-red sunflower who refuses to conform to sunflower norms! : )
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Tracey!
Matt Esenwine
Oh, the stories that can be told about the Sunflower’s Face! Thanks for sharing this, Marcie.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Matt!
PATRICIA J FRANZ
Aaah!! You and Rose together! JELLIE!!!
And so sorry about your sunflowers… they need a poem (and chicken wire)!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Chicken wire–so ugly but so useful! 🙂 Anytime you come to DC area, just let me know! I’ll meet you for saffron ice cream!
@RoseCappelli
Can’t believe we didn’t get a picture together, Marcie, but I can taste that saffron ice cream all over again. I didn’t have much luck with sunflowers this year either, so I can totally relate.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Can’t wait to have more saffron ice cream! It was so delightful!
Verrena Diane Anderson
Last year my neighbor across the street planted sunflowers in front of his porch (houses in our neighborhood feature large front porches). I remember thinking it was an odd place for sunflowers… and I have been angry for having such a thought, since I have missed them so much this year, when he planted them in his backyard garden. Sorry your sunflowers had such a sad story. Glad your caught the grasshopper on the sunflower’s face in the photo and the haiku.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
It’s so interesting–our neighbor plopped some sunflowers right by a very busy sidewalk. They were so cute. They’ve moved and I know I’ll miss their sidewalk sunflwoers.
Sally Murphy
In wire encasement
deer enraged by cage but still
sunflowers grow free.
(I’m sorry – I know you wanted to put teh subflower sin the cage, not the deer, but this mental image wouldn’t leave me.) Sorry about the sunflowers, too, though I would love to see a wild deer in my garden! not something that would happen where I live.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh I love it! We have so many wild deer. There were three in my yard yesterday morning when I walked out to my car to go to work.
Bridget Magee
I’m so sorry for your sunflower saga, Marcie. I’m glad your were able to capture the grasshoppers sunspot moment in your photo and haiku. And meeting a PF pal in person is the best. *waving* to Rose. 🙂
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Sunflower Saga would make a good poem title. 🙂
Linda Mitchell
What outstanding poetry and pictures match up! I’m like that grasshopper…I just want the great part of the sunflower.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Heehee! Loved that grasshopper!
Linda Baie
Luckily, no deer in our neighborhood, but rabbits and squirrels do plenty to the gardens. I wish I could help. I love the ‘sunning’ grasshopper, Marcie. You share lovely pictures with your haiku!
Laura Purdie Salas
Marcie, you’re certainly dedicated! Sorry for the deer thieves.Thanks for this haiku,but for the grasshopper pic–no, thank you! 😀
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
LOL–but the grasshopper is so cute! I just rescued one in my library the other day.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I swear the squirrels were throwing acorns at me this morning. Those stinkers!
Kathryn Apel
Oh, how lovely that you and Rose were able to share a catch-up. (Because funnily enough, I have come to your post following Rose’s. And you’re both being visited by deer!) Great capture (in words and pic) of your sunflower grasshopper. But I do hope he hasn’t acquired a taste!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much!
Mary Lee
I was thinking about planting sunflowers near the back fence next year, but based on your experience, I’m going to find a spot away from the reach of the deer that pass through our easement, trimming errant shoots off my sweet peas!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Oh those deer! I’ve gotta figure out a new plan next year!
Linda
Sorry to hear about your sunflowers. Hopefully, next year will work out better. Love the grasshopper seeking the sunflower’s face. Beautiful image!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda!
Denise Krebs
Marcie, such fun here. Your grasshopper and pretty flower. I love the ice cream photo and your meal with Rose. How fun is that? I’m glad you two got together. Next time you’ll get a photo!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I’m so bad about remembering photos. 🙂
Carol Varsalona
Marcie, the deer do like some of my flowers also. It is a problem that I have not solved yet. Even when I think I found a place for my perennials they come and feast. It is great that you took a photo of your sweet little blooming flower from your trials and tribulations. Grasshopper is having fun and I enjoyed your combination photo and haiku.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yeah–the deer think my hostas are a buffet for them. They are a mess! They even ate peppers this year.