All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl. That’s how I have felt lately. There just haven’t been a lot of opportunities to get out and explore. Even hiking has been a challenge this summer.

So when I learned yesterday morning that it was opening day for the sunflower patch at Walker Farms in the Hocking Hills AND when I realized I would be passing right by after work, there was no doubt I would go.

If you were there, I was the one in dress pants and chunky heels. If there were more than five people present the entire time I was there, I might have felt out of place.

Only about half the flowers were open and I saw just two varieties in bloom, but it was a lovely experience.

It was about 70 degrees, a far cry from the sweltering heat and humidity that have marred this summer. The sky was blue with some interesting cloud formations and it was a relief to be away from humans and among the living,

The living in this case consisted mostly of gorgeous flowers along with countless bees and some butterflies.

They have some fun props including a tricycle and some old doors that are perfect for photo ops. I imagine a lot of kids will do senior pictures there next month. There’s an old tractor and hay wagon that I believe they will use for actual hay rides on weekends during the u-pick pumpkin season.

I’m glad for places like this. For one thing, they give small farmers a different way to monetize their fields. They give kids and families a place to learn about farms and maybe learn where food comes from. They give everyone something beautiful and peaceful to enjoy. They also give pollinators a fabulous and safe playground.

We are all winners!

I stood amidst the flowers and drank in the fresh air. I could still hear traffic from the busy four lane highway nearby but it didn’t ruin the experience too much. I had been to training in Columbus and had seen and heard much worse on the way home in terms of traffic.

Planting my feet in a field was exactly what I needed.

It reminded me of the garden my grandparents grew when I was a kid. I remember “helping” when I was little. I’m sure I wasn’t that helpful but I do remember the smell of dirt and fresh beans, the taste of cold watermelon on the front porch, and the sticky silks of corn that we husked together.

I would love to have a garden like theirs but, in reality, it would be an impressive patch of weeds. They had both grown up knowing exactly how to best use their seeds by planting properly and at the right time. Growing vegetables requires more precision and patience than I will ever have.

So, instead, my vegetables come from the store but my memories come from somewhere far away. I harvest them when I can but nowhere are they richer or more alive than when I stand in a place like this sunflower field.

Farmers across Ohio now plant fields of sunflower and let folks visit for a few bucks. Find one near you and go enjoy!