in august and september these wild highbush sunflowers are as abundant as june dandelions. they are so common that my eyes just wash over them, and i don’t even consider them for STILL. but suddenly on this chilly november morning, when the radio announcers had resumed using the term “wind chill,” this was one of the few stems that still had any petals remaining. in a field of brown stalks with nodding seed heads, this splash of yellow looked exotic and rare. and it was. timing is everything.

early november wild sunflower

picked from the boulevard in front of swede hollow cafe, saint paul, minnesota