Favorite Pic of the Day for September 14th

Above:

Mustafa by Bob Burkhardt

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~Check out today's BIRTHDAYS HERE:~

Sunflower Season 🌻

Yes it's Sunflower season, but it's also nearing the end of summer.  Check out the end of summer's seasonal sightings on the NEXT PAGE HERE:

Fields of Sunshine 🌻

A sunflower field is like a sky with a thousand suns.

If you're regular FH reader, you may remember how much I love sunflowers.  If you search 'sunflower' on the site, (in the top left corner) you'll find dozens of post featuring visuals of the majestic flower🌻with the male form.  I've also previously done sunflower themed days, including a 3 page spotlight on the flower back in 2020. (HERE:)

There are many reasons why they're my favorite flowers, from their beauty and vibrant yellows, to their determination to follow the light, and follow the sun.  I think the main reason however, is because of my mother.  I've told the story before, but those who don't know, I'll share a bit of text from a previous post on the subject. 

My mother didn't like flowers.  I wouldn't go so far as to say she hated them, but she showed little to no interest in having them in the house, or on the property.  For her, an evergreen bush was much more practical for the front lawn. Little work and easy to take care of.  As far as inside, if anyone dared buy her flowers for mother's day or her birthday, she'd usually made a comment about how wasteful it was to spend money on something that in a few days, she'd be throwing in the garbage.

The one exception was the sunflower.  She'd welcome a sunflower bouquet once a year with a smile.  Although she'd preferred the plastic variety, that she could keep on the table for months, she 'allowed' real flowers as long as they were sunflowers.  Thankfully, so many photographers share my love of the glorious golden flower, and I've been fortunate to have featured many original and unique shoots with male models and sunflowers.  Today, that shoot comes from photographer Bob Burkhardt who gives us one more day of sunshine before Autumn officially sets in.

Artur Vovchenko: Sunflower Setting

'The sunflower is mine, in a way.'
Vincent van Gogh

When it comes to flowers, there is a sense of ownership, I think mainly it's because the reasons are usually personal.  Sure, for some it may come down to color or shape, but for most, it's because of our experiences with the flower and it's impact on memorable moments in our lives.

I always feel as sense of sadness when sunflower season comes to an end.  Not just because I'll miss their beauty, but because of how savage their last days can be.  The majestic flower takes months to grow, yet remains in bloom for just days.  Although they may bloom for up to two weeks, as soon as they open to the sun, the predators arrive.

All types of bees and flies are drawn to the center disc.  Butterflies and moths feed on the protein-rich nectar and even hummingbirds are drawn to the blooms and nectar.  With so many insects and birds picking away at them, they begin to denigrate and die.  Once the flower is dead, it begins to weigh down the stalk, hanging close to the ground, no longer able to face and soak in the sun.

Still, much like life itself, those far too brief moments of beauty make the sad and brutal ending worth the ride.  This series from Kyiv based artist and visual content creator Artur Vovchenko beautifully illustrates the last day of a sunflower setting.  I first saw this series from Artur, featuring model Husak Oleksandr, a few years ago on Pornceptual.  I really wanted to give it, and the sunflower, another brief moment in the sun.

Artur Vovchenko on Instagram

Artur Vovchenko on Pinterest / Behance

The Hot Horticulturist: Mustafa by Bob Burkhardt

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