Hey Latta

FinsnFur · August 11, 2009, 09:32:13 PM

A lil, background for those not in the know. A couple years ago my daughters 10 and 13 at the time had this big notion they wanted to plant sunflowers at Dads house.
I knew I'd get stuck taking care of them since the girls only got to be here every other weekend, but being a bachelor I figured it be kinda interesting to see if we could pull this off. I mean hey I aint no green thumb.

The first year we tried this, we got em in the ground as soon as we could and watched them bloom up to a whopping 3 feet. I'd go to get the girls and we'd pull up and they were ecstatic at how much they were growing. Obviously much more noticeable to them not seeing them everyday as I was. Shortly after the typical Midwest spring storms took over and chopped em all off 6 inches above the ground.

Ok...how do I explain to them that I didnt see this coming.

The following year HawksFeather and I was on the phone talking about everything but sunflowers when I decided to throw it into the conversation. He gave the ole bachelor, non green thumb a few tips, and I'll be damned if a package of Homegrown seeds didnt show up in the mail shortly after.
I called the girls and told them and they were excited, but they made it very clear that they get to plant them when they come the following weekend, I was not to take the liberty of getting them going myself.

"And this time were gonna pick the seeds out and cook em". Yeah ok...ok...

We pulled it off and this time I put stakes behind them to keep the wind from ripping em down and the girls just loved coming down to Dads and seeing their work progress.
They had no idea of the hours and time Dad had involved behind the scenes in watering and nurturing them.

Anyway...this year we decided to do it again, the youngest says "I want to try and get them to grow all the way to the roof Dad".
I'm thinking, yeah were going to need a continuous I.V. of Miracle Grow set up out there.

We bought the seeds this year, they picked them out. You cant believe how many different kinds of sunflowers seeds are actually available

And they planted them.
I get stuck tying them to the house and watering them and here we go......

But I just had to share with you what we got going on out there. I'm actually amazed.

The oldest daughter, now 15, and along with myself are really into the UFC, So the completely ravaging sunflower on the far right which has clearly past the others up and beyond the roof line at this point was nicknamed Brock

. (You know? Brock Lessner

The BIG GUY)

Anyway....See? I do lead a pretty simple life, my kids are my life and this has been really a lot of fun for us for what short time I actually get with them.

Last night I went to the kitchen to get a drink of water before laying down to sleep and praying the lord my soul to keep. And this was on the window sill behind the Sunflowers.

Now it's a good 5-6 feet to that sill. How in the ??

KySongDog · August 11, 2009, 09:44:07 PM

Look out Jim, its.......its....... the Bloated One himself!! Arghhhhhh! :shck:

pitw · August 11, 2009, 09:51:00 PM

Wow them things are talllllll

Great to see and you will remember this in the rocker with a babe on each arm. I can't explain frogs

Troy Walter · August 11, 2009, 09:55:51 PM

Cool plants Jim. Some frogs have sticky feet or what ever they are called. I have some at my house that stick to the side of my house and get under the light and eat bugs. First time I seen it I thought it is a freek. But now I see it all the time.

FinsnFur · August 11, 2009, 09:56:09 PM

:roflmao: I never even thought. If I'da been a little quicker I coulda Photo Shopped a red hue to his nickle ass before I posted that.

Troy Walter · August 11, 2009, 10:16:38 PM

Hawks Feather · August 11, 2009, 10:40:41 PM

Jim,

It is great that you (with the help of your daughters) have expanded your knowledge of sunflowers. Tell the girls that THEY have done an excellent job this year with their new seeds. Those are great looking plants. As for the toad, they can climb.

Jerry

Bopeye · August 11, 2009, 10:44:19 PM

That's pretty cool Jimbo. Don't ya just love the kiddos. I got a nice little white rabbit I'm getting to take care of......

They named and they visit him at least..........oh.......twice a week. The rest of the time old dad is with him.

Troy, that's some AWESOME photoshop.

Jimmie in Ky · August 12, 2009, 02:01:50 AM

Those ;ook like mamoth sunflowers to me. They can grow to amazing hights with good soil. The frog happens to be one of the many species of tree frogs we have here in the states. The little sucker like pads at te ends of its toes tell on it. I got the surprise of having two of them at eye level the other day while checking on the progress of my gourds.

Maybew you should try raising gourds on a fence or trellis next year. Big white blooms and lots of vine. Dang near grow on a rock. Jimmie

alscalls · August 12, 2009, 07:26:53 AM

Great job by all!!!!!!! Now who gets to harvest them before the birds eat em up??
Should be around the end of Aug. or mid Sept. for you folks. Then ya gotta dry em....wash em clean em.......

You aint doe yet......but a good job so far.......

pitw · August 12, 2009, 07:53:45 AM

Good point Al :shck: I have only made a kind of slurry out of butter and salt to coat our sunflowers before baking. What do you guys do?

alscalls · August 12, 2009, 08:06:02 AM

I freeze some as it promotes them to grow the next year.....
Some go back to the birds as the quality aint so good....
Some get baked by my wife and I have no Idea what she does to them....

We dry them in onion bags upside down hanging in the dark cool basement first though.

FinsnFur · August 12, 2009, 03:56:44 PM

I thought freezing them did the opposite.

alscalls · August 12, 2009, 09:02:15 PM

Seeds go dormant in winter (hence the freezing) then sprout in spring......
The freezer trick works for me every year Jimbo try it you will see.

EDIT: to say, 1 or two days in the freezer is all ya need.

FinsnFur · August 12, 2009, 09:11:14 PM

That frog's back again tonight.

He wasnt there this morning.

I think he found himself a smorgasboard.
That window is above my kitchen sink. I got like a 15 watt light bulb in the fixture above which I leave on all night so that I in my senior as self, can find my way to the can in the night if need be.
I think the frog has picked up on the gnats and moths that are drawn by it.

alscalls · August 12, 2009, 09:18:09 PM

Yep something small has his attention.......try not peeing in the sink.

5 SHOTS · August 12, 2009, 09:43:18 PM

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

KySongDog · August 12, 2009, 09:49:58 PM

Quote from: alscalls on August 12, 2009, 09:18:09 PM
Yep something small has his attention.......try not peeing in the sink.

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

FinsnFur · August 12, 2009, 09:53:51 PM

It's a little night light for my over sized prostate senior ass.
The bathroom is two rooms away.
Oh just leave the bathroom light on?.........yeah!

And burn my retinas out if I have to wake up and go in there?