judyjay

Does anyone know why there are so many sunflowers planted in Southwest France? They're as far as the eye can see and I'm sure it's not just for aesthetic reasons. Just wondering.

cigalechanta

They make sunflower oil and the seeds are also used for various things.

ira

Hi JJ,

Sunflower oil, sunflower seeds

Underhill

You'll also see sunflower boquets in local markets.

Amee

Spain has miles and miles of them also.

cigalechanta

bird and stock feed with the seeds.
and a popular motif in Provence

RobynFrance

Are the sunflowers in bloom through September? If so, where in the Dordogne would one see them? Thanks!

kybourbon

Italy has sunflowers also.

judyjay

Thank you for the info everyone. And to Robynfrance: we weren't in the Dordogne, we were in the Languedoc and Aude near Carcassonne.

mpprh

Hi

it is a cash crop.

It is expanding because sunflower has been found useful for various diseases.

We don't have many in my part of Languedoc, but the flowers are now finished.

Peter
http:tlp.netfirms.com

flygirl

what a beautiful title! would love to see miles and miles of sunflowers.

Flyboy

Your Gee Whiz Factoid of the Day: Kansas is "The Sunflower State", but North Dakota leads the U.S. in the production of sunflowers, growing more than half of the nation's annual supply.

mpprh

Photo link for flygirl :
http://tlp.netfirms.com/newphoto58.htm

Peter

BTilke

We saw fields and fields of sunflowers two weeks ago in Berry. Near Sancerre it was particularly beautiful...the lower fields were planted with acres and acres of sunflowers and the slopes were covered with grape vines.
Such a nice change from last year! I remember taking a train from Brussels to Vienna and the sunflower fields I passed along the way were all scorched and dying, the heat and drought were simply too much for them.

flygirl

Peter, beautiful!!

Michael

Sunflowers are more common in the western part of the Dordogne which is flatter and has more extenisive fields.

PalQ

There are swathes of sunflowers all over France. The Loire Valley has miles of them, mixed in with miles of hemp fields, the nearly THC-less hemp being legal to grow in France but not in the US. Hemp makes great fabric, rope and its oil is used in cooking. Both hemp and sunflower can stand hot dry conditions not unusual in France in July and August.

mamc

RobynFrance - the sunflowers are at their best in July and August. By September, most of the fields are somewhat dried out although you can find sunflowers here and there.

klondike

When we were there Sept. they were all dried, but not yet harvested and had a different beauty all their own.

Underhill

Robynfrance,

You'll also find sunflowers in the Loire Valley and in the Champagne region. The oil is lovely for making salad dressing.