I love sunflowers. There is something about their grand size, their vivid yellowness, and of course their sun searching. In Italian, the flower’s name is girasole—literally “sun turner.” No matter where I have lived, I have planted them, including in the postage-stamp sized yard of a townhouse. (That backyard also had a full vegetable garden, but that is another story.) When my son was little, I planted Helianthus annuus or Russian Mammoth sunflower seeds in a large square out in back of our country home, to create a play/reading/hiding room for him when they matured.
Sunflower tile on a house in Italy; note “gialla” at the bottom (the word for yellow).
Each October, Helianthus agrestis (Southeastern) sunflowers are the star of the show at Pepper Ranch Preserve in the remote town of Immokalee, Florida. Naturally intrigued, I have visited a couple of times over the years. It is worth an afternoon to see the native blooms lending their unparalleled brightness and sunny charm to the diverse landscape. According to the Preserve, the species is also called the prairie sunflower and is only found in Georgia and Florida where there are hydric pinelands and flooded grasslands. The Preserve is free to enter; however, you need to make a reservation online during peak viewing times as it is a popular place. This link has information.
Portion of a Preserve flyer.
Below I offer a few pictures and some information before sharing a short musing on being in nature as a different kind of pilgrimage.
Memory Lane: Sunflowers with My Father
Some pics from a visit with my dear ol’ dad in 2019. He passed away in 2022. May he rest in peace.
My dad and me.
Fun with a filter.
So blue.
Yes, I got a little carried away.
It Wasn’t All Yellow: Blooms and Beyond with Mr. Wonderful
The Preserve boasts all manner of wildlife in addition to cows, so the following photos are sunflowers and other sights. (Mr. Wonderful is my husband.)
Tropical Milkweed.
Florida Lubber Grasshopper.
Purple Morning Glory.
White Peacock Butterflies.
Charolais cow with non-breeding adult Western Cattle-Egrets.
Brown Swiss milking cow and Florida Cracker bull.
Close-up.
Two Towns and Tasty Tacos
Immokalee, FL is a Collier County farming community situated inland, northeast of the Naples and about 10 minutes southeast of the college town of Ave Maria.
Thanks to the large numbers of migrant workers in Immokalee, there are some awesome authentic Mexican restaurants. My favorite is Mr. Taco located at 409 West Main Street. The carnitas tacos are the best and the price is, too. Other great options: Mi Ranchito at 710 West Main Street and Lozano’s at 405 New Market Road East.
Some neat activities and attractions include: Old-school Farmers’ Market — held daily at 424 New Market Road East; Immokalee Cattle Drive & Jamboree — real cowboys herding cattle down Main Street; Lake Trafford — fishing, airboat tours (to see ‘gators), boating, and wildlife viewing; Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) Trails — birdwatching and nature exploration; and the Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch — showcasing early 1900’s pioneer life.
While in the area, definitely check out Ave Maria, whose center is modeled after an Italianate piazza. The town hosts numerous festivals and events. Its one-of-a-kind Church is an architectural marvel with tours available, and several Masses are celebrated each day. For more inspiration, the St. Mother Teresa Museum is excellent.
Inspired by Nature: Final Pilgrim Thoughts
The best pilgrimages touch the soul. Making a trek to see the Pepper Ranch Preserve sunflowers will bring wonder-filled wildlife up close (remember that ginormous grasshopper above?), ripe for contemplation with all the senses. There is the heavy muskiness of the wetlands, the sudden startled flight of exotic birds, the drone of invisible insects, the drenching humidity, the sucking muck-muck of your steps tromping through matted fields, the stare of the dull-eyed cow who is looking right through you, and over it all the heady stillness of the swamp.
These unchanging serene scenes speak to the heart. If we are attentive, time in the natural world is grounding and reveals much. How good it is to be in the midst of creation in its rawness and beauty! We are a part of it as creatures and yet so different as humans. May we give thanks to the Creator, and like the seeking sunflower, ever turn toward the Son.
Sunflower Fields Forever.