I get asked all the time about what my favorite flower is. And as you might expect this is almost an impossible question to answer. My usual response is
“Well, it depends on the season.”
It’s true! Every year as we move through the season, I am declaring my new “favorite” flower. The freesia started blooming in early April and there I was swooning over their unique shape and irresistible scent. The next thing I knew it was May and “finally my favorites are blooming” I told Ryan as the gladiolus spikes started to emerge.
I’m sure lots of people have more than one favorite when it comes to flowers, I mean come on, it’s hard to pick just one. What I do believe however, is that each of us have just one soul flower. It’s the one that represents your values, knows you best, and keeps finding its way into your life. Even when you don’t always choose it.
Mine? Mine, is the sunflower. I know what you’re thinking, very underwhelming. I get it if you’re rolling your eyes at me right now. Everyone who is anyone says they love sunflowers, and honestly, I can’t blame them.
And while the sunflower isn’t necessarily my FAVORTIE flower, I like to call my soul flower.
There is a saying in the flower farming world that says, “any asshat can grow a sunflower.”
And honestly, its true. Sunflowers are straight forward when it comes to growing them. Dirt, water, sunshine and in about 60 days you’ve got yourself some bright cheerful blooms. The first year we decided we wanted to start our farm, I went out and bought every color sunflower I could get my hands on, and no surprise, they all grew.
Do you remember the first time you saw red sunflower? I do. I was absolutely in awe. If you haven’t seen one in person, I highly suggest you track some down…we grow them on the farm wink, wink.
Sunflowers get their reputation of being just sunflowers but let me tell you something, I have yet to meet anyone that has no idea what a sunflower is, and I can’t say that about some of the other flowers that we grow. Sunflowers feel like home, they are the familiar face and the flowers we’ve been picking since we were little.
A lot can be said about a flower that is so woven into our lives that time and time again we choose them. You see them in weddings, at baby showers, in anniversary centerpieces, popping out of Mother’s Day bouquets, and on kitchen counters. Sunflowers are a universal symbol for happiness, and I think that is extremely beautiful. They are the flower that got me started on this crazy flower journey and I like to call them my soul flower. What is your soul flower? Is there one that just keeps showing up into your life? Let me know.
Also, the next time you see a bouquet of sunflowers, buy them. You won’t regret it. Better yet, get yourself some seed and grow them yourself… I promise I won’t call you an asshat.
