Last Thursday, I picked a big bunch of bold, bright sunflowers and it turned out to be the best thing I did all week. Filling a big vase on the table on the porch, they radiated their stored-up sunshine, even in the dark of the power outage.

In the garden, sunflowers are imposing as they tower over you,
7 or 8 feet above ground. But they’re mere dwarfs compared to some that have grown to 20, even 40, feet! Conquistadors brought seeds back to Spain from their native Mexico and South America. They also
brought sunflowers wrought in gold, talismans of the Incas’ sun worship.

Before the rains came Friday, I
pulled into the Labonville parking lot to visit the Farmers Market — a close
second to picking sunflowers. Vendor Clarice Hodges left before the others, sold out, no doubt, of
lettuce, fennel, onions and raspberry everything. Kimball Farm had potatoes,
small and freshly dug. Alongside Dick and Louise Kangas of Bryant Pond offered
jams, jellies, apples and apple butter. Meadow Ridge Perennial of
Hebron had a good variety of plants. Grandma’s House: Bakery and Gardens in
Mexico specializes in pies and breads. “I bake all Thursday and sell on Friday,” said the owner.
Call 364-3424 to order ahead.

Roy’s Family Farm in South
Rumford and Gail and Carl Cutting of
Route 120 in Mexico offered vegetables and were nearly sold out at 2
pm. Clay Hill Farm on the Valley Road in Peru boasts “farm-raised, state-inspected” Black Angus beef. Sam Haynes invited us to
“come see how we raise our beef.” To order by phone call 576-6451.

The Farmers Market is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and is thriving. Dave Kimball remembers being the only vendor on the
scene two years ago. What changed? Dave credited market master Gail
Cutting’s leadership. But Gail said, no, the mover and shaker has been Beverly
Crosby of the River Valley Growth Council. More vendors Gail said, means more
customers. “Everybody likes one another and helps one another
out,” she said.

An added attraction on Sept. 4 will be Jane Peterson
demonstrating the art of spinning yarn. Stop by and buy. Maybe
there’ll be sunflowers.

Linda Farr Macgregor is a freelance writer.
Contact her: [email protected]