Small sunflower with a big heart.
In these days when hugs are rare, how wonderful to see this fine little sunflower throwing all of her eight arms open wide to give hugs to any passersby—pollinators, butterflies, songbirds and dozens of interesting insects.
Botanically named helianthus decapetalus the slender Thinleaf Sunflower is a member of the guild of sunflowers and stands up to 7 feet tall. Although the name implies ten petals, the flowerheads can have anywhere from 8 to 12.
“Ah Sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the sun; Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveller's journey is done; Where the youth pined away with desire And the pale virgin shrouded in snow, Arise from their graves and aspire Where my sunflower wishes to go!
William Blake
All of my resources said this hardy, wild perennial extends “...from New Brunswick as far west as Wisconsin” and none of the habitat maps included Minnesota, but here she is in abundance along the trail, standing tall and offering a cheerful yellow greeting and a smorgasbord of creature food.
She must have snuck across the border just to spread a little love.
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