“I don’t think there’s anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower. 
For me, that’s because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun, but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that’s such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life.” — Helen Mirren
Sunflowers stand tall on some 14 acres of blooming fields at Buttonwood Farm, Griswold, Conn. Photographed, painted and simply admired for their beauty, the roughly 300,000 flowers generate more than viewing delight. Proceeds raised annually through sale of bouquets and Make-a-Wish Foundation donations make it possible for children with life-threatening medical conditions to have wishes for joy come true.
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Photos by Mary O’Connor © 2014. Read more about the role of sunflowers as a source of joy to a former prison inmate in Life Is Full of Sweet Spots.
Life Is Full of Sweet Spots 