There is a beautiful field of sunflowers in full bloom on Jake Alexander Boulevard near the U.S. 601 intersection. There are acres of the lovely flowers holding their heads up to the sun while bees work the blooms for pollen.
Photographer Elliott Erwitt is quoted as saying, “To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
Applying Erwitt’s quote to this field of sunflowers is perfect. It is a place where you do not expect to find “something interesting in an ordinary place.” It is surrounded by a corn field, woods and a highway. The property owner has planted the flowers for their beauty and he loves looking at them.
To protect his property, he has had to post no trespassing signs to keep people out of his field. Some vandals have gone into his field and trampled down flowers just walking around. One butcher came with a machete, chopping the flowers down to steal them from the field.
The owner said that he couldn’t stop people from looking at the field. It is so pretty. As he instructed me, “Just don’t go into the field. It is posted.” That order applies to all who go to look at the beautiful field this farmer has created.
On Crescent Road just outside Rockwell, there is a field with a sign that says “free sunflowers” that allows people to stop by and pick their own.
— Wayne Hinshaw