Sunflowers

photos Jacqui O'Gara - copyright
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The growing of sunflowers for production of oil and seeds turns the landscape into a delight to walk and take photos, it was a pure enjoyment to walk around the fields, sunflowers for as far as the eye can see.
We were in Bulgaria early July and this is definitely the time to see the flowers in all their glory.  Endless fields of sunflowers, following the sun.
We have a house in a village close to Tutrakan and the countryside is stunning. Here are some of the photos taken on a stroll around the fields, Tutrakan, Silistra Bulgaria.

Sunflower

Sunflowers in Bulgaria

sunflowers as far as the eye can see

Beetle on a close up of Sunflower

blue sky and sunflowers Bulgaria

Poppies and sunflowers

Beautiful Bulgarian countryside - sunflowers, farmland and forest

path around the Sunflower fields

Helianthus or sunflowers 

Sunflower landscape 

landscape - path around the sunflower fields - Bulgaria

Landscape Sunflowers Bulgaria

Rakia distillery with Sunflowers in the back ground

landscape - heading towards sunflower fields - the start of the walk

Sunflowers and blue sky

Sunflowers Varnenci

Sunflowers loved by all

Sunflowers loved by all

Sunflowers loved by all

Bulgarian rural landscape - sunflowers

 rural landscape - sunflowers

landscape - sunflowers

panorama sunflowers 

panorama on the walk around the village, Bulgaria

Bulgarian rural landscape - sunflowers and hills

landscape sunflowers on our afternoon walk

heading home, rural landscape - sunflowers

walking in Bulgaria

Sunflower

 as far as the eyes can see - Sunflowers

sunflowers

undulating landscape 

undulating landscape  Sunflowers and fields, rural Bulgaria 

landscape rural Bulgaria and Sunflowers

"The sunflower is the Greek symbol of Clytie (a water nymph) who turns into a sunflower after grieving over the loss of her love (Apollo). The mythological symbolism here is that Clytie (in the form of a sunflower) is always facing the sun, looking for Apollo's chariot to return and she might be joined again with her love. The sunflower is also a symbol of Daphne (another Greek nymph).

The sunflower in Chinese symbolism, the sunflower (and sunflower meaning) deals with long life, good luck and is considered very auspicious. It's yellow color signifies vitality and intelligence. It's a symbol of happiness too.

In esoteric Christianity, the sunflower is a symbol of God's love. The sunflower as a symbol can also represent the unwavering faith that guides the soul to the highest spiritual attunement."   quoted from - whats-your-sign.com/symbolic-sunflower-meaning

undulating landscape ,  Sunflowers and fields, rural Bulgaria

Sunflowers are great for kids to grow, I like the giant varieties

Sunflowers can be sown straight in to the ground where they are going to flower, so make sure the space you are going to sow is weed free, by using a trowel to remove the weeds.
Rake the soil to a fine tilth (a fine crumbly texture) and make some drills 12mm deep. Leave a 10cm space between each seed.
Place the seed in carefully and cover them up with soil. Don’t forget to water the seeds gently. As they grow, if the plants are crowded, then thin them out to about 45cm apart leaving the strongest, tallest plants.
Be careful, as slugs and snails like to eat the new shoots. You may like to protect the seedlings by cutting the top off a plastic bottle and placing it over your seedlings.
As your sunflower begins to grow taller than you, you will need to help support the stem, by placing a cane near the stem and loosely tying the cane to the plant with string.
Watch your sunflower grow and grow and grow.

Helianthus or sunflowers L. /ˌhiːliˈænθəs/ is a genus of plants comprising about 70 species in the family Asteraceae, all of which are native to North America except three species in South America.