Sunflower

Sunflowers always remind me of special people. My dear friend, J, is one of them. She told me they were her favorites soon after we met in college. I have created artwork inspired by my friendship with her and our mutual love of sunflowers over the years, and I felt that she must be present in any memoir project I create now. There is something so cheerful and miraculous about a sunflower, especially when you grow them from seed yourself. To plant a small seed in the soil, watch it grow, and stand underneath it at the end of the summer is a wondrous experience. Not all sunflowers grow so tall, but I like the tall ones best. When my son was little, I would plant them in a ring in the center of my garden, and create a special shelter of sunflowers just for him. He loved hiding in there and playing while I worked in the garden. It made me feel as though I was sharing some of the magic of nature with him. I still plant them every summer, just to feel the magic for myself and to be reminded of loved ones every time I look at them.