The Sunflower Grotto
July 23, 2007 by Kimberly
Welcome to the Sunflower Grotto! What fun it has been, this summer, watching the sunflowers reach incredible heights. We’ve begun tying their “heads” together to form the roof, and the effect is quite charming…a nice little “grotto” or cave which the little girls like to sit in with their dolls.
If you’ve never made a sunflower house or grotto, it is really quite simple. In a sunny location, dig a crescent or horseshoe shaped trench. The size is entirely at your discretion. Scatter sunflower seeds (the mammoth variety) closely together (leave about two inches between each seed - you can also plant a smaller variety in between, if you wish). Water frequently…sunflowers require a lot of water. A few short weeks and your grotto or house will have reached sufficient height to begin forming the roof. The roof is formed by simply tying together adjacent “heads” or blooms. We don’t mow inside the grotto…the tall grass provides a lovely carpet for little ones to sit and kneel upon. Enjoy!
I am a traditional Catholic homeschooling mother of 9 children, married for 26 years to the most patient and sainted man. As converts to Catholicism in 1991, our family has only recently discovered the beauty and full expression of our beliefs in the timeless liturgy of antiquity, the Extraordinary Rite also commonly referred to as the Traditional Latin Mass. An avid knitter, I also enjoy gardening, reading and immersing myself in the everyday graces of my vocation.
Ours is really tall too, but I guess I planted them too closely, so my five year old is afraid to enter her Sunflower Grotto.
Yours looks SO cozy!
I’ve heard that it’s possible to dig maze shaped trenches and plant the seeds very close together…that sounds like a lot of fun, we might try that next year!
This is lovely and something I would have done as a child.
[...] - employing the use of garden walkways, a “floral rosary” and comfortable seating. A sunflower grotto is a lovely idea, as well, and would make quite a backdrop for your favorite garden statue of our [...]