That radiant glow

Until I used this photo in an illustration, I did not notice that the leaves glow. I swear that I did not do some special tricks in Photoshop to make that happen. I don’t know that much about Photoshop! And even if I did, I doubt I’d have the patience to draw glowing areas around each leaf.

The glow is just some natural lighting effect, God’s gift to this photographer.

Or maybe the sunflower is radioactive and I’ve received some as yet undiscovered supernatural powers from exposure to this thing?

Frou-frou lamp sunflower

Sunflower at left reminds me of a fringed lamp. Can you tell that I have never lacked for imagination?

The head turning downward has a practical purpose. A sunflower head parallel to the ground makes life harder for birds trying to eat the seeds.

This particular sunflower field is a confectionery sunflower crop. Sunflowers grown for oil would have smaller heads. This head is full of sunflower seeds; therefore, it’s a prime target for birds.

Sunflower rising

I was trying to get this picture when I included my cap. I love the interplay of light and shadow across the flower and the variations in the petals.

The photographer wears a ball cap

The photographer wears work boots on her feet and a cap on her head. The cap keeps my hair out of my eyes and away from my lens.

Monday morning, I was trying to shoot a picture of a bashful sunflower, one with its head pointing toward the ground. Because I was holding the camera parallel to the ground, lens facing upward, I couldn’t see what I was shooting. When I looked at my screen after taking this picture, I laughed. Apparently, my cap thought that Monday morning was time for its close-up.

Where’s Cecil DeMille when you need him?

Sunflowers at sunrise

No light is better than that shining at sunrise. No crop is more beautiful than sunflowers. Put them together for wonderful pictures.

I arose early Monday morning, even though it was a holiday, to take sunflower pictures. I marveled at the glory and provision of God to make these beautiful creations to feed his creatures and for the wisdom He has granted us to improve their yield.

I thought of the song “When Morning Gilds the Skies”.

When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When you begin the day, O never fail to say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day when from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Gift from the birds

Every winter, I put trash cans underneath my bird feeders to catch the waste. I’m amazed how many sunflower hulls are in those trash cans and how many little sunflowers come up each spring.

I thin them ruthlessly, but always leave a few of those beautiful yellow flowers to brighten my garden. Yellow is one of my favorite colors. It’s so cheerful and warm. Sunflowers’ shape makes them look like faces. I often feel that my sunflowers are smiling at me and the thought warms my heart.