Had been searching for them since a very long time (many many years actually). Last time (actualy the only time) I saw them growing somewhere was in 1997. But I was in a hurry to get somewhere back then. And so when I returned to that nursery, they were all sold out... But yesterday evening (after so many years) while driving across a few plant nurseries - My eye caught them!!! So I stopped the car abruptly, which actually left some very ugly skid marks on the road! Seeing this traffic policeman also pulled over by my side and asked: Are you insane? Do you realize what could have happened had there been a few cars traveling behind you? I said: I saw these Dwarf Sunflowers growing over here, and so stopped to buy them! So he gave me a very strange and confused look, and then said: Well, this proves it, you are insane for sure, (after which he drove off shaking his head in disbelief)! But at least I got them now! They are no taller than 14 to 18 inches, so this time I'll collect the seeds and make them grow all year round - As the weather over here is always hot and sunny! They may actually turn out to be excellent winter flowers too for my climate! This was actually the real reason why I joined the GardenStew - As I wanted to exchange seeds over the internet! It's not yet fully bright over here, will be another few hours when the sun will be shining brightly - But here are a few pictures of them! Dwarf Sunflower 1 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 2 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 3 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
So glad you finally managed to get your dwarf sunflowers S-H. :-D They are just the perfect size aren't they and so pretty too. However, I don't know that I like that strange hairy one on the left!!
I'm happy to hear you didn't get into an accident from braking so soon! They are very tidy looking, thanks for sharing with us.
That strange hairy one on the left is actually a result of some stray Neanderthal genes accidentally entering into the family tree. So on the plus side, it's given this plant some above average height, strength, health and endurance (ideally suited for rough military service also) - But at the same time is has also made me a bit stupid too (especially when it comes to driving)... By The Power of Grayskull!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO1ChfM94yQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr_GZsgiUt0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xuE95tcccs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF20B8p4F08 Just got to love those cartoons and forgotten B movies of the 80s! Seriously though - I think I'll now go to that Plant Nursery one more time, to get a few more of these - So that I get more seeds from them. Otherwise if I can't propagate them, then God only knows when I'll ever get another chance to grow these again (as they are so hard to find over here)... Also, I want to get lots of seeds right now, so I can send them to anyone who wants them here on the GardenStew - That way if something bad were to ever happen to my seeds, I'll always have the comfort in knowing that someone else out there is also propagating these (so I'll always have a way to get more seeds)! Dwarf Sunflower 4 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 5 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Those are great looking. A whole bed of those will be so cheery and spirit lifting after a long hard day. Hope you are able to get lots of seeds.
I got 4 more from that Plant Nursery yesterday - So now I have a total of 7! Now I'm just worried about one thing. Will 7 plants be enough to get some good seeds? Of course they are - What am I saying here? Still, I can't help but worry a little. As I know that sometimes Sunflower kernels grow empty, like they are void of the actual seeds inside the outer shell - Probably a result of poor quality soil, or maybe a plant virus or a fungus... Anyone over here know what I'm talking about? Dwarf Sunflower 6 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Hi S_H, careful with the leaves. In the last pic, the leaves of the one on the left seems to have been eaten by some bug. You might want to tend to that or am I being paranoid?
You'll have a plentiful source of seeds now. I see a perennial garden full of sunflowers in your future for sure.
Thanks guys for liking this! Here are some more pictures that I took. I am happy to report that as of today - Honeybees too have located my Dwarf Sunflowers! So what do you people think? Have anyone of these pictures got a shot at becoming the picture of the month? Dwarf Sunflower 7 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 8 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 9 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 10 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 11 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 12 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 13 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 14 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 15 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
Yes, they for sure are having a very positive effect on the place - Even a small swarm of honeybees seems to have arrived from nowhere. So that too is most beneficial for all the other plants! Anyway, here are a few more pictures - Of how they look at night! And the next 4 pictures are from the microscope, showing the skin structure of the leaves, and also the of the yellow petals - Which is amazingly smooth, while the rest of the plant is very hairy indeed. Dwarf Sunflower 16 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 17 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 18 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 19 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 20 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 21 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 22 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden ) Dwarf Sunflower 23 ( photo / image / picture from S-H's Garden )
