Photo by Elizabeth Connolly
by Elizabeth Connolly
Hometown Weekly Reporter
There is, arguably, no flower more synonymous with summer than the sunflower. The huge, vibrant blooms typically grace us with their stunning colors late summer. For the second year in a row, one of the very best places to see them was the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s (MHS) Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley. This delightful 36-acre property has dedicated 1.3 of those acres to their Sunflower Spectacular, which was expected to run from Saturday, August 9th through Wednesday, August 20th this year. Included with paid admission was the ability to cut three sunflower stems to bring home.
Sunflower Spectacular visitors also enjoyed the opportunity to wander through the other splendid sites on their way to the lower garden area, which hosted the sunflower field. The Trial Garden was in full bloom with a lovely variety of annuals and perennials; the Italianate Garden had gorgeous hydrangeas on display; and Weezie’s Garden for Children offered a space for the youngest attendees to play, climb, dig, and explore. Some stopped by the Hartley Botanic Greenhouse to get a glimpse of Eliza, the rare Titan Arum (Amorphophallus titanum), more commonly referred to as a corpse flower. MHS hosted this giant blossom, which bloomed in late July, in collaboration with Wheaton College.
As folks approached the lower field, however, all else seemed to be forgotten as their eyes widened, taking in the colorful display of over 100,000 dazzling sunflowers.
“Seeing these bright, beautiful flowers in full bloom on such a grand scale is truly captivating,” said Chandler Simental, Grounds Supervisor at MHS, via press release. “The gradient of colors from the various sunflower varieties creates a remarkable floral spectacle, and it's been an honor to help bring this space to life. We're eager to welcome visitors to experience it and hope the community will come out to walk through the sunflowers and enjoy the scenery.”
Up next at The Garden at Elm Bank is the 139th annual New England Flower Show, which will feature floral installations, food trucks, vendors, programs, workshops, and more. This year’s theme is World in Bloom, and the weekend-long spectacle is slated for Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21. Tickets are on sale now at MassHort.org
