My friend Julie and I go to the to the Farmers' Market every Sunday morning (and then out to breakfast and then to the Book Thing). Nearly every Sunday, I ooh and aah over the huge variety of sunflowers on offer. I rarely buy them though. But yesterday, they were just so stunning that I bought a bunch.
When I got home, I tried various vases and containers, but since the flowers are so top-heavy, they kept tipping over the container. Finally, I spotted an old brown pitcher and lopped off all but about eight inches of stem. Viola! Perfect container and perfect arrangement!
Somehow it all looked familiar... oh, that's right! It was very similar to the Van Gogh painting, "Twelve Sunflowers", (original title in French, Tournesols) one of a series of six paintings. One of these sold for $39 million! 
One of the Sunflower paintings was destroyed in a fire during the ending days of WWII. Others are in Philadelphia, Amsterdam, Munich and Tokyo.
One of the Sunflower paintings was destroyed in a fire during the ending days of WWII. Others are in Philadelphia, Amsterdam, Munich and Tokyo.
I can't imagine what Van Gogh would think of if he saw the huge dinner-plate size Sunflowers we grow today! Here are some more pix from the Farmers' Market.
The shades and varieties of sunflowers are endless!
Those are some gorgeous paintings and blooms. How can anyone not smile when looking at sunflowers? I certainly can't.
ReplyDeleteSunflowers are the best! You just can't help but feel good every time you seem them.
ReplyDeleteMy mother took me to a Van Gogh exhibit in 1960(abt...memory where are you?)in San Francisco. At thirteen....I fell madly in love with the excitement of his strange and wildly powerful paintings. I taught art history in the elementary schools when my children were young and always....always the Sunflowers were the favorite. Lovely....Ginny
ReplyDeleteOh lovely sunflowers!!
ReplyDeleteNever pass up a chance to buy sunflowers!
ReplyDeleteFavourites. I have a good Basque friend who used to bring them to me for my birthday. Very cheering! Especially since the Basque was involved with the festivities... there was always a morning after the night before to contend with.
ReplyDeleteIn France, we passed huge fields of them. The first time, I was so awestruck that I stopped the car and Mrs. E. and I got out and just stared.
How could you resist those beautiful sunflowers?!?! They are an instant "cheer you uper":)
ReplyDeleteI love Van Gogh's sunflowers, and the real thing too...when I was first starting out, I purchased a Van Gogh knock off from a flea market. You guessed it, inspired by one of the original sunflower paintings! It was one of my few knock off purchases, and it made me realize that there is nothing like the real thing...the real thing being either Van Gogh's original, or a real bouguet of sunflowers.
ReplyDeleteLovely post on a rainy day here in Atlanta. I need to get some sunflowers to brighten up my day!
Those sunflowers are HUGE and gorgeous! Farmer's market and eating sound FAB! I need that life! :) Love Van Gogh!
ReplyDeletebeautiful! my sister buys sunflowers each week for this yellow ware vase she has! they always make me think of her now.
ReplyDeleteYou're ahead of us on these. They look so fun, a relief from the garden doldrums of August.
ReplyDeleteLove 'em! Easy to grow from seed, a big bang for the buck. Always cheery and happy. In Spanish they are called girasol, because they turn their faces to the sun.
ReplyDeleteLove growing these. This is the first year we haven't. I do miss seeing them in the garden.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by. Your sunflowers are GORGEOUS! I'm originally from the Sunflower State by the way, Kansas. Your arrangement does look like the painting. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteKaren B.
How wonderful -- your arrangement does look just like a Van Gogh! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteLovely post! and thanks for stopping by my new blog!!
ReplyDeleteAmazingly humongous cheerful blooms! I'd buy them too. Can you put them out for the birds after you're done with them?
ReplyDeleteYour sunflowers inspired me to paint a sunflower field... pop over and take a look... thanks for inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love a good Farmer's Market too.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of "Twelve Sunflowers". 39 million eh? Whoa!
ReplyDelete-ashliana-
Amazing post.Superb, i must say that
ReplyDeleteJessica Parker
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