Savor Your Sunflowers

There is something about a sunflower that makes me smile before I even realize it's happened. I always try to have them in my garden, if they manage to win the race against the squirrels and chipmunks in their early days of growth. I also like to make the most of these beauties by harvesting the seeds of my sunflowers. If you have never harvested any of your own seeds (flower or vegetable) this is a perfect first time candidate as the seeds are so large. Once the sunflower has seen it's last day of glory, cut the bloom off of the stem and set it in a dry sunny place for about a week or so until all moisture is gone. Then, break the head of the sunflower in two to begin picking seeds. This is a great summer activity for kids too as they learn about nature while being hands on in the process. Be careful though, some dried sunflowers can get pretty prickly! After you have gathered your seeds, you can either put them in an airtight bag for next Spring, make bird seed, or put them in the oven lightly salted for a tasty home grown snack. Whichever you choose, it can surely be said that one little seed goes a very long way!