Comments on: Salute The Sunflower

By: Herb Hamilton

Herb Hamilton — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:25:31 +0000

Sorry George, while your writing is excellent, you have failed to sell me on the sunflower as a replacement to the rose. Now, excuse me while I enjoy my Freedom Fries. (You see how long that change lasted.) Roses are American and have a proud place in our gardens.

By: Let’s debate national and state flower | Hoosier Gardener

Let’s debate national and state flower | Hoosier Gardener — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:54:52 +0000

[...] whose companies include Burpee, Heronswood, Ball Horticulture and other garden-related operations, blogged a few weeks about about changing the national flower from the rose to the [...]

By: Eddi Reid

Eddi Reid — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:38:08 +0000

YES! MY VOTE IS YOURS – SUNFLOWERS FOREVER!

I love these so much that I am attempting to devote an entire section of my garden to them. I cannot think of many things more beautiful than a large area of nodding sunflowers. In my imagination they are already blooming and attracting myriad insects and birds.
Thank you for pointing out all their virtues.

I was born in England, the gentle climate promotes the gentlest of flowers. The Midwest, where I live now, is bright, sometimes harsh and always brilliant. Sunflowers are meant to live here in the USA and are certainly symbolic of the American upfront and in your face attitude.

By: Barb Johnson

Barb Johnson — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:46:43 +0000

Sounds like a great idea. The sunflower has my vote!!

By: Paul Ecke

Paul Ecke — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:15:24 +0000

I vote for the poinsettia! It is a native plant as well. And it fits into the Red, White, & Blue theme of 4th of July. Ok, so it has a photoperiodic problem, but that can be worked around!

By: Eugene Tsuji

Eugene Tsuji — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:57:25 +0000

I defend the honor of the rose sir! As one of the few remaining domestic cut rose growers, I have to disagree with the thought that the rose is genteel and wimpy. They are the best of many worlds, beautiful yet armed with thorns. Able to act as a centerpiece or a fence, the rose is versatile. Sunflower oil is great for a fish fry, but rose oil will lead to a more heavenly encounter. Perhaps our national flower should be a diverse bouquet of mixed blooms!

By: rita

rita — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:08:01 +0000

Hello George, I love sunflowers! I have always thought that sunflower is one of the greatest “happy face” flowers. Is it a way to attach for you graphic presentation of your ideas? Thank! Rita

By: Anrean

Anrean — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:42:55 +0000

“Americans for American Products” should be the motto we all live by. And, it is outrageous that the rose, a non-native plant with thorns (don’t get me wrong, I love roses, but not as a national flower!)get more attention.

Start a petition, and my guess is that most Americans will sign on immediately! I certainly would!!

By: KarenGarner

KarenGarner — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:33:59 +0000

I love the Sunflower. It would be a great and striking flower for our symbol. There is a great variety of height and colors due to hybridizing.
It is a flower head and shoulders above the rest.

By: Gerry J

Gerry J — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:27:23 +0000

Why do we have a non native as our national flower, when we have so many beautiful ones that were found here long before our ancestors ever arrived, yes, we are all immigrants or descended from immigrants, but just like the state flowers are plants native to their state, we should choose something more appropriate, perhaps one of our native roses like the swamp rose or the pasture rose or even the sunflower which was here long before us and has great economic value
How can we go about changing this?