There is always a surprise along the boardwalk in Summerside. This past week, my husband and I found sunflowers in various stages of development, from immature buds to full flowers in the area of the salt marsh. They captured our attention!
The first one we saw was visible from the gazebo, our first stop of the day.
It’s shining face was turned to the east, greeting the morning sun. We couldn’t resist walking to the beach to have a closer look. Often, people will pick a sunflower which grows along the shore so it might not last long if the past predicts the future.
How did this bloom and the others which are in bud,
happen to grow along the shoreline? We suspect birds drop some sunflower seeds which walkers leave at the many feeders along the boardwalk. Another possibility in that some seeds drop into the stream and are deposited along the shoreline. Either way, the plants are a wonder of nature.
The younger plants have buds of various sizes which expand as they near blooming. The buds have so much potential for beauty.
Further along the boardwalk, more wildflowers are beginning their brief and glorious days in the sun. Now goldenrod
and Joe Pye weed are coming into blossom.
In the scene below, the newcomers join roses, Queen Anne’s Lace and Sow Thistle. Nature is an amazing florist!
Lastly today, I want to share a brief video of the shorebirds which stop by the same place where the sunflowers bloom. You can see the video here.
These birds are on their way south after weeks spent nesting further north. They stop over in Prince Edward Island in preparation for the long flight to warmer climes for the winter. This day, the tiny birds resemble ants scurrying around in the seaweed.
It is a joy to watch them.
40 comments:
I love your observations. Yes, that natural bouquet has a lot to teach us.
The farmers market this weekend was full of vendors with decorative sunflowers for sale!
So very lovley! Wildflowers are the best.
I always love visiting your beautiful island! Thank you so much for these delightful pictures.
Sha found a new sunflower field not to far from here yesterday. I will have to make an effort to take some photos.
the third picture is outstanding...i love that point in a sunflowers growth!! wildlife doing its job...how fun to see volunteer plants and sunflowers may be the best!!
awesome captures of the shorebirds...i went looking this past weekend and could not find any!!
The sunflowers are always a pleasure to see. The shorebirds are beautiful.
I love sunflowers in the wild but not so much in a garden. It feels like keeping a wild bird caged. Beautiful photos Marie💕
Beautiful 🌻
Oh, how I love sunflowers. They are so delightful right along the water's edge.
I really like the young buds with their feathery petals.
Yes. Nature is an amazing florist.
Thanks for sharing.
Sue
How pretty! I love sunflowers, and those are beautiful! I always enjoy your nature walks. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely flowers..
Nature is THE best artist, and her galleries are superb. I enjoyed your video of the busy birds too. Thank you.
Great video, but Goldenrod makes me think fall is coming!
Yes, I agree the sunflowers are "planted" by birds. Lovely flowers, all those you found.
Good selection of wild flowers growing in tough conditions.
how glorious is a sunflower! and the lovely shorebirds too ...
Nature truly is an amazing florist.
I read yesterday that you are now halfway through summer. It seems it has only just begun but the birds know otherwise.
Sunflowers are so cheerful and I imagine they look stunning against the blue of the sea in the background. Love the video (they do look like ants!) xx
Yes, you say it, nature is an amazing florist. Thanks for the wonderful photos and the nice tour with you.
I wish you a happy week.
Viola
Beautiful photos, Marie. I've been enjoying nature's flower arrangements as we drive along the highways. Clouds of Queen Anne's Lace mixed with blue chicory and some spiky pink flowers I can't identify (not Fireweed), along with yellow yarrow (I think). Gorgeous.
Make the most of it, Marie. Summer is rapidly moving on and so will those sandpipers!
Beautiful photos. Sunfloweers are my favorite flowers; every year I plant many seeds in the garden.
And yes, nature is an amazing florist!
Nice shots! I had some sunflower seeds to plant this yr but cause they get so tall I was not sure where I should plant them and with that....they did not make it in the ground. haha
Mother Nature is certainly an artist and wonderful florist. The sunflowers are gorgeous! It's odd to me, that although I've fed the birds sunflower seeds for years, I've yet to see a plant grow. I guess the birds clean them up pretty handily.
It seems early to me, that the birds would be preparing to fly south. But I had a horde of grackles in my yard this morning when I woke at 6 a.m. Since the bird feeder is gone, I'm sorry to say they would have found nothing to eat here.
I just love sunflowers.
Coffee is on, and stay safe
The sunflowers are a delight.
I have three sunflower plants in a pot on my deck. I think they will be blooming soon. I love your wildflowers and the shorebirds really are like little ants scurrying about. Thanks for sharing your lovely land with me.
Nature does a spectacular job,doesn't it? What BEAUTIFUL photos! I love sunflowers, but just don't have the room for growing them.
I love the next to last photo. Wonderful variety of blooms and colors!
That was the first thing I thought of when you said sunflowers- Where did they come from? The bird theory makes sense. Your photos are beautiful as usual.
Hello,
It is nice to find the volunteer flowers growing, I love the sunflowers and the photo of the mix wildflowers is lovely. Beautiful photos and the shorebirds are a joy to see. I going to watch the video now. Take care, have a happy weekend.
That sunflower is gorgeous!
Delightful shots dear Marie: )
Sunflower is full of joy and most bright and vibrant beauty among flowers.
Birds and winds help to spread seeds of all kind of the flowers
Loved the birds .So many wow joy to watch I agree
I love the sunflowers!
Sunflowers are not only beautiful to look at, but also the symbol of optimism.
Even the birds (according to the video) stop by their place.
Beautiful photo of these birds in the swamp. It is a short summer in the north. How long do they stay on the island? Is it the beginning of autumn already?
The PEI shoreline is a bouquet of beauty!
Wild flowers are always beautiful! I never get tired looking flower beds created by nature.
Stanislaw,
The migratory birds may stay for weeks as they fatten up for the trip south. Birds like the Bonaparte Gulls are here for weeks, arriving early August. Others may be around for days and then fly to other areas further south, such as the southern coast of Nova Scotia before heading to warmer climes.
We always expect August to be a bit cooler than July. It is the same this year, with temperatures in the low twenties, without the humidity of last month. I prefer August weather but it isn’t autumn yet.
Marie
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