Sunflowers at Scamman Farm

Sunflowers at Samman Farm!

There is something truly magical about Sunflowers…and that is the perfect word to describe the beautiful Sunflower field at Scamman Farm! This summer, the Scamman family planted a sea of Sunflowers for all to enjoy! And if a magnificent display of Sunflowers isn’t enough, they even made a heart-shaped maze inside the patch…talk about magical!

In addition to the Sunflower Patch, Scamman Farm offers endless fun (and delicious food!) with corn mazes, animals, live entertainment, pumpkins and their Seacoast Community Marketplace featuring local vendors!

Scamman Farm is a landmark on the New Hampshire Seacoast and is located in Stratham, just minutes from Portsmouth and Exeter! You can get more information including their hours and upcoming events by visiting their website at www.ScammanFarm.com.

Fun Facts About Sunflowers:

*While sunflowers are stunningly beautiful and have the uncanny ability to lift your spirits, they also have a rich history and meaning. Sunflowers are a symbol of adoration, loyalty and longevity, much of their symbolism derives from their namesake, the sun. Like the sun, sunflowers provide energy in the form of nourishment and vibrancy.

*When sunflowers are young, they track the sun! Scientists revealed that sunflowers have circadian rhythms which promotes that behavior. A young sunflower will follow the sun from sunrise to sunset every day until it reaches maturity. As sunflowers mature their internal clock begins to slow down until they stop tracking the sun entirely. When sunflowers stop following the sun, you will find them facing the east. By facing the east, sunflowers can attract 5x more pollinators because the sun warms them faster than westward facing flowers. 

*Not only are sunflowers stunning to look at, they also provide many health benefits when they are consumed, including reducing cholesterol levels! A study done by the American Heart Association found that consuming polyunsaturated fats can help reduce cholesterol levels. Sunflower oil is high in polyunsaturated fat and is a great alternative to butter! Speaking of butter, if you have never tried Sun Butter, a delicious alternative to nut butters, you’re missing out! Don’t be alarmed if you’re baking a batch of Sun Butter cookies and they come out with a slight green tint, that is completely normal!

*Sunflowers are native to the United States. The flower is native to North America and is now harvested around the world! According to a University of Missouri journal, North Dakota is the leading U.S. state for sunflower production!

*The leading sunflower producer may be in the United States but the tallest sunflower in the world is in Karst, Germany stretching 30 feet tall! This magnificent giant was confirmed by the Guinness World Records on August 28, 2014.

*Sunflowers can self-pollinate! Sunflowers pollinate by attracting bees that transfer self-created pollen to the stigma. If the stigma does not receive any pollen, it can twist around to reach its own pollen allowing the plant to reproduce!

*Sunflowers were handed to Olympians to celebrate their achievement in Japan, but the flower bouquets hold an even deeper meaning to the citizens of Japan - they represent the recovery from the disastrous 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Nonprofits began planting and cultivating flowers to jumpstart the area’s economy. In Miyagi, sunflowers emerged as a sign of remembrance, memory, perseverance and resilience.

*The head of a sunflower is made up of thousands of tiny flowers. In fact, the “petals” are actually a flower! Sunflowers are often referred to as “happy flowers,” making them the perfect gift to brighten someone’s day!