Seeing the fruits—or blossoms—of your labor is one of the most exciting aspects of gardening. One homeowner shared incredible photos of the flowerbed he has tended over the years.
The r/NativePlantGardening community on Reddit is a large group of gardeners who enjoy sharing advice and receiving support. One member showcased his huge bed of common sunflowers on the site.
“My usual sunflower field has gotten so big this year,” the OP wrote.
The post includes several pictures of their backyard “patch,” although “patch” may be an understatement since it seems to take up most of their yard. The pictures show what appear to be hundreds of common sunflowers and some close-ups of the flowers and the pollinators they support.
The OP explained in more detail in the comments how he encouraged growth.
“When I moved into my house 12 years ago, there was a small bed of about five of these plants, which probably came from a nearby wildflower prairie,” they said. “When the flowers die and completely dry out, I cut them off and leave them on the ground to reseed. The bed gets bigger every year.”
Common sunflowers are beautiful yellow flowers native to the lower 48 states of the USA
“Native plants are the native land and aquatic species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat,” writes the U.S. Forest Service. These plants are beneficial to the local ecosystem because they support local wildlife and soil health.
Many Americans have chosen to grow more native plants in their gardens. According to the National Gardening Association and the National Wildlife Federation, “12% of U.S. adults are converting portions of their lawns into a natural or wildflower landscape.”
Moving away from traditional lawns and returning your yard to its natural state is good for your local ecosystem and can save you money. The average person can save more than $200 on their water bill by switching to a more natural lawn. You can also make the transition gradually, such as by planting clover.
Other gardeners were excited about this homeowner’s progress.
“I think this is great! All our sunflowers were eaten by slugs. It was a very wet season where I live,” wrote one person.
Another commenter said: “Looks so happy, I’m going to come over and sleep on the field.”
It’s so inspiring to see people helping native plants grow big and strong.
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