Photo courtesy of the MDC.
Missouri is starting off summer in droughty conditions. Sunflower fans will be pleased to know that Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) biologists still expect the sunflowers planted at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in Spanish Lake to put on a show this year. MDC staff has continued to plant multiple sunflower plots again this season.
Though the extremely dry conditions can put a lot of stress on plants and wildlife, MDC staff believe we’ll still see a good amount of blooming in the sunflower fields. If the plants are especially stressed, the flowers may be somewhat smaller than previous years, and they might shift their blooming a little earlier and end a bit sooner. But there should still be plenty to see for sunflower enthusiasts and photographers.
Showy sunflower fields have been an annual tradition at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. MDC staff have been planting sunflowers for years as part of their management for mourning doves. The area is known for dove hunting each September. The large flowers supply seeds that entice the birds, and their lofty stalks create cover for the hunters who pursue them. Sunflowers also benefit a wide variety of other birds and pollinators. They lure plenty of photographers, too.
MDC work crews began planting additional sunflower stands in addition to the regular dove management fields again a few years ago. These viewing fields are easily spotted from the road and intended to provide convenient access for taking photos. MDC crews also stagger the timing of the plantings to spread their blooming periods out over a longer period. Visitors should be able to see sunflowers in bloom somewhere on the area from early July through the middle of August—depending on weather conditions.
Environmental Echo 