A Sunflower Story

Yeah, Another Blogger

“What the hell is wrong with you, Neil?” my unsubtle editor Edgar Reewright shouted into the phone a couple of weeks ago. He had called moments earlier with a special request — he wanted me to compose a story about sunflowers — and I had balked at the idea. “I mean, what do you have against sunflowers? Just about everybody likes sunflowers, right? Right. Furthermore, if they were good enough for Vincent van Gogh, who, unlike yourself, was a genius, then they damn well are good enough for you.”

“Neil,” Edgar continued, “have I ever asked anything of you before? Other than demanding high payments to compensate me for the extraordinary pains I take to make your writings intelligible, the answer is no. I haven’t been myself the last few weeks, so a bright, cheerful piece about the sunniest of flowers probably will boost my spirits. Write it!”

“Listen, Edgar,” I said. “I’ve got nothing against sunflowers. On the contrary, I love them. I mean, they’re just adorable. Big and grinning, and their gangly stalks are so improbable. They’re like dogs that want nothing more than to please you, that know they’re goofy and would have it no other way.”

“So, what’s the problem, Neil?”

“Well, it’s just that I’ve written quite a few nature-related articles the last several years. I don’t want to overdo it, you know.”

“Overdo it? Neil, you can’t go wrong with nature. And I highly doubt if you have anything better to write about right now, anyway.”

“Oh yeah? Listen, Edgar, I’m planning to do a piece on the wonders of napping. I’ll explore its ins and outs: how I position my head just so on the living room sofa before nodding off, for instance. And how I awake 10 or 15 minutes later with glazed eyes, uncertain where the hell I am. Edgar, I’m one hundred percent certain that the readers of that article will be enthralled. My exciting revelations will have them panting for more.”

A few seconds passed. And then Edgar had this to say: “A short while ago I asked, ‘what the hell is wrong with you, Neil?’ And I was right on the money, because a better question hasn’t been posed anywhere in the world today! Napping? You’ve got to be kidding me! Listen up, haven’t I always strived to help you create agreeable product?”

“Yes, that’s very true, Edgar. I don’t know how you do it, but you whip my reportage into decent shape.”

“Thank you, Neil. Even though I’ll never figure you out, I have to admit that anybody who unashamedly uses a clunky word like reportage in conversation can’t be all bad. Okay then, I strongly recommend that you drop the napping idea and move on to sunflowers. Are we on the same page?”

We were.

Thus, during three walks in the latter half of July, in my neighborhood and in nearby towns, I kept an eagle eye out for sunflowers, and found about 15 homes on whose grounds they were displayed. Having strolled past hundreds of houses, though, I was a bit surprised by the low percentage that carried this form of joyful flora. But little matter. Every sunflower that I saw smiled at me. They truly were glad to see me, and the feeling was mutual.

But you know what? Despite the time I spent with real-life sunflowers, I have to admit that I much prefer a particular Vincent van Gogh sunflower painting over them. Vincent painted sunflowers a dozen times, and one of those oils hangs within the Philadelphia Museum Of Art, where I have passed hundreds of hours. (I’ve lived in Philadelphia or its suburbs for most of my adult life.) It very well might be the most popular art work in the museum. It certainly is one of mine.

Vase With Twelve Sunflowers, by Vincent van Gogh (image credit belongs to Philadelphia Museum Of Art and to vggallery.com

Vincent had the abilities to find the hearts and souls of his subjects, to bring his subjects alive in both traditional and unexpected ways. And he did exactly that when he painted the canvas in question in 1889. It is glorious and imbued with vigor. It has deep stories to tell. Sunflowers never have looked so good.

(My editor has been getting on my frigging nerves big-time. So, you know what? F*ck him! I won’t allow Edgar to edit this article. I’m going to press the Publish button right now. Please don’t be shy about adding your comments. Mucho gracias.)

150 thoughts on “A Sunflower Story”

  1. johnlmalone August 4, 2021 / 12:18 am

    this is one of the most joyful, buoyant posts you’ve written, Neil: the description of the sunflowers is a gem: it’s going in my commonplace book; your editor should be very proud of this piece of ‘reportage’ 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  2. swabby429 August 4, 2021 / 12:33 am

    Sunflowers are underappreciated by many folks. I’ve long been fascinated by them. Their heads follow the Sun, plus they have tasty seeds.

    Liked by 6 people

  3. Lynette d'Arty-Cross August 4, 2021 / 12:50 am

    Sunflowers are wonderful and your description of them is lovely. Thank you for deciding to write about them rather than napping. That is, either actually napping or writing about it (although I would like to hear about this head position some time 😉 ).

    Liked by 5 people

  6. Claire August 4, 2021 / 2:07 am

    I love this post and sunflowers. We have a sunflower maze near where I live. Sunflowers always make me smile and lift my heart.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. gabychops August 4, 2021 / 2:33 am

    You don’t need editing, every word is perfect!!!

    Thank you.

    Joanna

    Liked by 3 people

  9. JOYCE HAMILTON August 4, 2021 / 7:31 am

    Love sunflowers also one Vincent painted

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 12:44 pm

      We’re lucky that the Philadelphia Museum Of Art owns five or so of van Gogh’s works. He was great.

      Like

  10. triciatierney August 4, 2021 / 7:49 am

    Edgar IS right – you can’t go wrong with nature! This and sunflowers are delightful!

    Liked by 2 people

  11. Kim Smith August 4, 2021 / 8:35 am

    Well, I’m sure you won’t be surprised to know I agree with Edgar about nature…it’s da bomb. And Vincent was a huge fan of nature as well. I almost wrote about him a couple weeks ago when I went to see one of those immersive digital exhibitions in Detroit. It was an amazing experience to have his works projected (and animated) on the walls and floors all around me. Thanks for paying tribute to sunflowers today!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 12:46 pm

      A few years ago a fabulous and unusual movie about van Gogh came out. It’s called Loving Vincent. Very much worth watching, if you haven’t already.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Dan Antion August 4, 2021 / 8:40 am

    Sunflowers are wonderful. You can never have to many.

    Liked by 2 people

      • Dan Antion August 4, 2021 / 3:06 pm

        There used to be a commercial grower out where our daughter lived. It was amazing to see a huge field of them.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Robert Parker August 4, 2021 / 8:48 am

    That’s great, Neil, I really like that, sunflowers as big gangly, eager-to -please dogs. Maybe send a bouquet of them over to your editor, make nice, he’s just trying to help, like Van Gogh, you should maybe lend him an ear.

    Liked by 3 people

  14. Helen Devries August 4, 2021 / 10:11 am

    Having had acresof them when living in France I now find they are appearing on Costa Rica…am I being stalked?

    Liked by 2 people

  15. Denise Denton Thiery August 4, 2021 / 10:19 am

    The wonders of nature are so abundant that you could write about them in every column. That’d be alright with all us tree-huggers. Nicely done.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 12:51 pm

      Hi, Denise. You’re absolutely right about nature. There’s no overstating how infinitely incredible nature is.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Debra August 4, 2021 / 10:30 am

    And who said there’s nothing new under the sun…flower. Nicely done.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 12:52 pm

      Debra, you’ve got a way with words! Thanks for visiting. See ya.

      Like

  17. Laurie Graves August 4, 2021 / 10:36 am

    Add me to the “you can’t go wrong with nature” camp. But your thoughts about Van Gogh were oh so true.

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Jacqui Murray August 4, 2021 / 11:00 am

    Napping vs sunflowers–I gotta say. Edgar was spot on, Neil.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 1:30 pm

      He probably sings that song at every one of his shows. His audiences would be very upset if he didn’t.

      Like

      • annieasksyou August 12, 2021 / 8:03 pm

        I could certainly give you some pointers in the napping department, Neil—what with my current medication regimen.

        Your take on sunflowers, however, is strictly your own—and it’s pure delight. I think you’ve hit on something universal. One of my favorite travel experiences occurred on an overnight train ride from Budapest to Slovakia. We awoke to the sight of fields and fields of sunflowers—their pert heads grabbing the first morning rays. Spectacular!

        Liked by 1 person

  20. sniderjerry August 4, 2021 / 1:19 pm

    Hey there Neil,
    Check out the tune “Sunflower” by Neil Diamond = That makes two Neils talking about sunflowers.
    Have a great day. jerry

    Liked by 3 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 1:41 pm

      Hi Jerry. Here’s something else that he and I have in common: we both were born in Brooklyn.

      Like

  21. Rosaliene Bacchus August 4, 2021 / 1:32 pm

    I don’t know why, but I’ve never been much of a lover of sunflowers. Without a doubt, Van Gogh gave them so much light and energy that we couldn’t look away. A neighbor’s sunflower plants were all smiles until struck by the excessive summer heat. They now stand bone dry for all to see.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 3:46 pm

      High heat and droughts are huge, huge problems in so many ways. Food supplies are being badly affected, as only one example.

      Liked by 1 person

  23. JT Twissel August 4, 2021 / 2:19 pm

    We can’t grow sunflowers in the backyard. Too many birds and birds adore sunflowers. It’s a shame because like Vincent, I adore them.

    Liked by 2 people

  24. tylerus August 4, 2021 / 3:08 pm

    They were featured just yesterday on a local news station – who knew they came in so many colors!? They’re beautiful. And, somehow, soothing. Thanks for a great post!

    Liked by 2 people

  25. talebender August 4, 2021 / 3:31 pm

    My wife loves sunflowers, too, and colourful coneflowers. I’m more partial to loaded corncobs!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Ann Coleman August 4, 2021 / 3:45 pm

    Love your sunflowers! Keep right on ignoring your editor…..

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 5:35 pm

      Hi Ann. I think that my region is in the midst of its prime time for sunflowers: mid-July to mid-August.

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Sam Gridley August 4, 2021 / 4:01 pm

    A corner near us in Philly is occupied by a Sunoco minimart/gas station. At the edges of the property they stuck in some generic evergreens. A guy who lives around the corner volunteered to do plantings around the tall gas-prices sign at the corner, and somehow the corporate types agreed to let him go ahead. Last year he put in some giant sunflowers that competed for attention with the sign, and in their scraggliness undermined the corporate ethos. It was great. This year, though, he abandoned the giants – too much water needed – and planted smaller ones, along with hibiscus, Rose of Sharon, daylilies, and liriope. He’s still being rewarded with one free cup of coffee a day. (That is, Sunoco’s approximation of coffee.)

    Liked by 2 people

  28. eden baylee August 4, 2021 / 5:04 pm

    Sunflowers are one of my fave flowers. You can’t have too many!

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Paddy Tobin August 4, 2021 / 6:02 pm

    You can’t beat a good Van Gogh! He gets to the heart of the sunflower so that even Edgar would be redundant!

    Liked by 2 people

      • Paddy Tobin August 5, 2021 / 3:53 am

        He’ll get over it. He earns enough off your back!

        Liked by 1 person

  30. Alyson August 4, 2021 / 6:10 pm

    So many sunflowers in your neighbourhood – I’ve never successfully managed to grow them without the stalks falling over, sadly.

    Can’t remember if you’ve been to Amsterdam but last time I was there we went to the Van Gogh museum. So many sunflower paintings and so much yellow in there. A happy place.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 7:51 pm

      Hi. I was in Amsterdam in 2016. Went to the VG museum. Great museum. Great city.

      Like

  32. alhenry August 4, 2021 / 6:31 pm

    1, Van Gogh was, indeed, a GENIUS,

    2. History strongly suggests that geniuses suffer A LOT, or at the very least, have to put up with insufferable nonsense from Troglodytes. Of which, sadly, there are too many.

    3. Sunflowers are the bees knees–or is it bees love sunflowers’ knees?

    4. My neighbor, John, has fabulous sunflowers–every single year. If you ever get out this way, feel free to photograph them, then stop by for a drink with Ed and me on our deck.

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Suzanne August 4, 2021 / 6:40 pm

    I have a desire to play devil’s advocate. Of course, I won’t though I will just add myself to the large sunflower admirers group. Large fields of sunflowers are amazing on a sunny day. Something to look forward to in summer if I find one here in NZ.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 4, 2021 / 8:00 pm

      Hey there, Suzanne. I would love to see a field of sunflowers. There’s one on a farm about 20 miles from my house. I really should go there.

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Arlene Somerton Smith August 4, 2021 / 9:35 pm

    This week I attended the Van Gogh Immersive Experience in Ottawa where I live. So amazing. https://vangoghottawa.com/ Sunflowers, in my opinion, are best viewed from a distance and in large quantities, like a field. Love that.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 5, 2021 / 6:55 am

      Hi, Arlene. I mentioned this to another person who added comments: the movie called Loving Vincent is very unique and amazing. It’s worth checking out. Enjoy the day. Many thanks for stopping by.

      Liked by 2 people

      • Arlene Somerton Smith August 5, 2021 / 7:06 am

        It’s interesting how things occur “by chance.” I work in a library and yesterday I was in our DVD area and saw the Loving Vincent movie. I’d never heard of it before. Apparently it’s a Van Gogh kind of week for me, for some reason.

        Liked by 2 people

  35. tanjabrittonwriter August 4, 2021 / 10:58 pm

    I’m glad the sunflowers were smiling on you, Neil. I wish you could see the profusion of sunflowers around here. Our wet spring seems to have made most of the seeds germinate, and their golden faces are brightening our days. 🌻🌻

    Liked by 2 people

  36. Angela August 5, 2021 / 8:28 am

    The really exciting thing is seeing a field of sunflowers. I love the Italian and French words, “girasole” and “tournesol” which mean “turn to the sun.”

    Liked by 3 people

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 5, 2021 / 9:44 am

      I really should go to a sunflower field. Those fields are few and far between in my region, but there are some.

      Liked by 2 people

  37. cigarman501 August 5, 2021 / 11:55 am

    I love sunflowers. Tell Edgar to chill and go look at some.

    Liked by 2 people

  38. selizabryangmailcom August 5, 2021 / 1:18 pm

    You should drop Edgar and hire my editor, Noah Noworries.
    You’ll be writing happily, stress-free, with a big vase of sunflowers towering over your computer.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. Evelyn J. Willburn August 5, 2021 / 2:09 pm

    I especially love how sunflowers turn their heads to keep looking at the sun. Thanks for your post.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 5, 2021 / 8:26 pm

      Hi, Evelyn. I wonder if other flowers do the same. Maybe so. Take care.

      Like

  40. Crystal Byers August 6, 2021 / 10:03 am

    We’ve both had Van Gogh on our minds. I suppose a trip to Philly is overdue. I was there at age six.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 6, 2021 / 1:29 pm

      Afternoon, Cristina. You’re right — sunflowers have a real good disposition. They’re friendly flowers.

      Liked by 1 person

  42. chattykerry August 7, 2021 / 10:23 am

    I am not sure if I really like sunflowers….no idea why. That said, I love all of Van Gogh’s work (even the sunflowers).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 7, 2021 / 12:08 pm

      The Barnes museum in Philly has one of the world’s greatest art collections. I was there two days ago. Saw six or seven oils by van Gogh, and loads of paintings by Matisse, Renoir, Cezanne and many other artists.

      Liked by 1 person

  43. Basia Korzeniowska August 7, 2021 / 12:53 pm

    Delightful. I love sunflowers too. In France I’ve seen fields and fields of them – an amazing sight. In London not so much. My daughter gave me a beautiful bunch the other day. They really cheered us all up.
    But this week I saw something i had not seen since I was in Poland when I was eleven: whole sunflower heads the size of long playing vinyl records being sold for seeds! looked delicious – but too big to carry home in the rain!

    Liked by 1 person

  44. Dave August 8, 2021 / 11:00 am

    The relationship you have with your editor is the envy of us all. Don’t lose him anytime soon.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 8, 2021 / 2:14 pm

      Hi Dave. Edgar and I have a long history. I’ll hang onto him, at least for a while.

      Like

  45. cath August 9, 2021 / 2:51 pm

    It’s been a while since I managed to keep track of my blogging friends, so apologies for my absence. But, I send my thanks to your editor for nudging you in the direction of sunflowers – I agree, adorable is just the word to sum them up.

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Pam Lazos August 9, 2021 / 6:11 pm

    I don’t think your editor is as bad as you say, Neil. He actually seems quite nice, and sunflowers are a huge big deal, smiling all the time despite the human condition. ;0)

    Liked by 1 person

      • Pam Lazos August 9, 2021 / 11:06 pm

        Haha – I find you to be a very sunny 🌞 fellow, Neil. 😎

        Liked by 1 person

  49. viewfromoverthehill August 9, 2021 / 10:02 pm

    Yup. Sunflowers are strong and brave. They have more courage than we do, don’t you think? Cheers, Muriel

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger August 10, 2021 / 7:14 am

      You know, I never thought of sunflowers that way before, but I think you’re right.

      Like

  50. Jeff the Chef August 10, 2021 / 8:39 am

    I never thought of sunflowers looking like they’re smiling. I like that. And now that I’m thinking that way, I think they also look a little surprised.

    Liked by 1 person

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