Out of the blue it came, a sunflower the size of a small tree, and towering over my bed of dwarf French beans. I think I must have a mouse or bird to thank for dropping a seed from someone else’s plot in my compost heap, whence it was transported to the bean bed early in the summer. I have certainly never grown a monster like it. Anyway, its suddenly overbearing presence hasn’t deterred the beans – a variety called Ferrari which have been more than living up to their name.
I’ve read conflicting reports as the companionability of sunflowers and beans, some sources saying that climbing beans will grow up a natural trellis of sunflowers, others saying that bush beans and sunflowers both should, and should not be grown together. Ah well. All I can say is beans and sunflower are doing well, the beans still producing even as autumn approaches, and despite some chomping by slugs. But it goes to show, anything can happen out on the plot.
Tish Farrell 
Well done those supercharged Ferrari beans for standing their ground against the yellow invader!
I shall pass on your praises later 🙂
You make sure you do!
It looks a bit menacing; a type of space invader. 😉 But perhaps it was just a bit grumpy on a cloudy day. Will you harvest the seeds?
It does look a bit grumpy. The wind gave it a bit of a buffeting. As to the seeds, I shall probably let the birds eat them. Or maybe I should save a few and go in for some guerrilla gardening along the field path between allotment and home. Now there’s a happy thought.
A very happy thought.
wow – amazing!
That’s the kind of surprise that helps cheer up a bummer week, isn’t it? I love sunflowers.
It’s hard not to smile back at them, isn’t it; or in this case UP at them. Glad to brighten up a bad week, Sandra. More sunflowers needed on a regular basis 🙂
That’s one big flower!
It is indeed a whopper 🙂
I probably would have pulled it out thinking it was a weed.
This is one of the prettiest ones of the year. Beautiful big flower.
What a beauty, Tish! I’m glad it and the beans got along so well. My m-i-l used to call these types of serendipitous plants “volunteers.”
janet
Oh I like that, Janet. Although I feel the sunflower is perhaps volunteering over and above the cause of duty.
Some plants just get carried away, I guess. And it is, after all, a giant sunflower!
Great post! Strong photograph!
We have a few plants that have sprouted hich we have scratched out heads and wondered: And where did that come from!
We used to have a few Sunflowers but they disappeared much the same as they arrived: ’tis a mystery, I tell you.
It’s nice that one’s garden can throw in a few surprises – apart from surplus weeds that is 🙂
She is a beauty!!🌻
Whopper…!
Mamma mia!
Great subject , great photo!
I have never successfully grown a sunflower. I think the key word there is “sun” of which we do not have nearly enough. But I quite admire them. They are like the skyscrapers of the flower world. They make a STATEMENT. With or without beans.
I must say the ones I grow intentionally are often rather weedy, so good on the garden for doing its own thing.
Stunning, Tish! Glad the beans continue to grow, too. Thank you for such a magnificent photo.
Gorgeous. I love these kind of volunteers. Also love the name of the beans 🙂
Alison
Wow!
It’s impossible not to smile at such a giant beauty Tish. Are the seeds of that sunflower edible? Sunflower seeds make such a nice addition to home-baked breads.
What a beauty and I bet the birds love it.
I’m sure the birds will soon be v. happy, Sally.
It’s a cracker! 🙂 🙂 I saw some glorious crimson-petaled ones (two ‘l’s? I’m a bit free with my l sometimes
🙂 ) at the weekend.
Crimson petals – now that would be lovely. As to 2x l or one, I’m not sure I can help. My spelling is dreadful these days.
I decided 1. You just have to be decisive sometimes. 🙂 🙂
That is sound advice, Jo.