I spotted this flower on the roadside the other night when I was returning home to Casa Claire. I believe it’s called a common sunflower (Helianthus annuus).
You see this plant sprouting from the barren roadside soil in the most unlikely places. They are tough as cat shit. They breathe in car fumes, suffer the buffering winds and sweltering heat of NoCo and are lucky to draw only an occasional drop of rain. Resilient.
Indeed, they are defiant. The contrast of their bright yellow petals set among the more monotonous colors of the equally hardy weeds makes them stand out, catches the corner of your peripheral vision and causes you to look. Theirs is a visual declaration: “I am still here!”
It becomes even more noticeable as we shift into the fall season, when most other wildflowers have surrendered their seasonal visual vibrancy to the coming winter.
These flowers hang around like the last guests at a Labor Day barbeque. When they’re gone, it’s time to put away the table umbrellas and pack up the lawn chairs.
Now that I’m older, I have developed a real appreciation for their metaphor – strive to be the last man standing.
It also makes me still want to add a little color to the world.
Well, enough mental meandering.
My fine, five readers have reached another Thursday together. Friday’s handmaiden.
So, finish those last cuppas and then go complete whatever major tasks this work week demanded of you. Get it all wrapped up in a pretty bow, but don’t turn it in until tomorrow morning, or the powers that be may reward your diligence with another project that could ruin your weekend.
And no matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.
