PM360 talked with Linda O’Neill, Sr. Director, Innovation, EVERSANA INTOUCH about her time spent among the sunflowers in Kansas.
My Odyssey: I used to ride motorcycles through the county roads of my home state and looked for interesting places to stop on my routes. Among those places I found Gritner’s Sunflower Farm, Lawrence, Kansas located near the Kansas City metro area. As you turn off the main two-lane country road onto a more dusty stretch, you curve down a short distance and are greeted by an unexpected spectacle—a vast expanse of sunflowers!
Each day the sunflowers are in bloom you’ll find hundreds of people flocking to the fields to capture the state flower in all its glory. The sunflowers, spanning nearly 40 acres, start to open in late summer. While the vibrant yellow draws you in, it’s the sheer scale of the field that is awe-inspiring.
Think about the farmer as an artist who had a vision for the finished product. Gritner’s is a working farm, and the sunflowers are just one aspect of what is planted over the farming season. They are a business, but to date have not charged admissions. They do accept donations if you want to take home sunflowers or would just like to support the farm in bringing beauty to others.
I am drawn to this place because it represents the vast beauty and tranquility that is found nearby. Having grown up and lived near the ocean, mountains, and desert, the plains can be mistaken as non-descript.
Visiting Gritner’s Sunflower Farm is somewhat like an evolving painting. The sunflowers sway gently and follow the sun, awakening as the sun rises, facing toward the light, turning, and then softly resting at sunset. This place can be a bit of a sanctuary if you find your little pocket of quiet among the sunflowers—some towering feet above your head. And when experimenting with photos, you can bring your ladder to get the full effect of the expanse from a different vantage point.
My Recommendation: Looking for a haven of serenity and source of life’s simple joys? If you have the option to visit the prairies and farmlands of Kansas in late summer, put Grinter Farms on your list. You won’t be disappointed. Peak bloom is Labor Day weekend and sunrise is my favorite time to visit. It is a great place for photo opportunities as many go to take annual family photos, fall photos, special occasions pics, and more. In addition to the field, they have a farmhouse called Sunflower General which is a local goods shop with all the baking done on the premises; their chocolate chip cookies are highly praised. You can find them on Facebook at Grinter Farms.
Want to connect with Linda? Reach her at Linda.ONeill@eversana.com
