Sunflowers

 
   Click on photo for a larger image

In March, the roadways were colorful with the spring super bloom. Now the sunflowers are mature. There is a large field of sunflowers just outside Maricopa, Arizona. We drove to the field this week and were not alone. There were several cars parked along the roadway admiring the vast expanse of tall flowers.

   Click on photo for a larger image

It is interesting how all the flowers face east toward the rising sun. There is a reason for that. We arrived just before noon and already the flowers were lowering their heads. It's tempting to go back at sunrise and see if-and-how differently the field might look. Not all the flower heads are the same; there are a few irregulars. Looking at them more closely made me think they could be whispering to each other or communicating in some way. 

As we head into the triple-digit-days of summer, such beauty as this becomes a rare spectacle. We do have flowering shrubs that handle the extreme temperatures, but the landscape overall tends to droop and brown under the intense summer sun. This was a treat to see the football-field size land filled with the Ukrainian symbol of peace.

Interested in visiting? From Phoenix:
- Take West I-10 toward Tucson
   About two miles after the 202 interchange,
- Take right exit to South 347 toward Maricopa
   About 15 miles later, or just inside the city limits,
- Turn right onto West 238 (1st intersection after Ace Hardware)
   About 5 miles and you will see the field on the left
- Turn left at Ralston (first left after RV Storage on right)

Parking available along the shoulder of the road. 

Please respect farmer and stay out-of-the-field/do not touch sunflowers.