Smile, Sunshine!

It's a field of gold rising above waves of green - the sunflowers in the northernmost field at the Pope Farm Conservancy west of Madison on Old Sauk Road.

It's one of four fields of crops in the Conservancy which is a public park and working farm.

Grade school students make field trips each year to the farm to learn about conservancy of the land and how crops were grown in the past and are grown now.

It's a great use of public land.  The highest point in west Dane County offers a view of Lake Mendota and the Capital to the east.

Last year was when we discovered the park - since then it's become a great place for long walks in the country and a way to observe the changing seasons of the year.

It's a great place to take pictures of the seasons and how the land blooms to life before slowly returning to sleep under the covers of winter.

My favorite time on the hill of the Pope farm is right now, when the big heads of sunflowers are raised toward the east horizon with rays of sunshine emanating from their center, soon to become a meal or snack for birds and small creatures before the combine can finish the harvest.

Just the other day, as I walked around the field there were families and friends gathered for their own photo opportunity in a natural setting.

I watched cameras set on tripods, the timer set, and the photographer rush to his spot in the frame before the camera clicks.  

Locating the right spot for the "perfect" picture was difficult since the big burning ball of sunshine was hiding behind the clouds during my visit.  I think the flowers knew the sun was missing from their life, causing their heads to droop just a bit.

Yellow is a cheerful color, almost by default.  It can be used to warn others away from hazards and danger... but mostly I think yellow is cheerful.  It's like a ray of sunshine.

When I walk over the top of the hill and the flowers are in bloom, it's like feeling the sun on my face on a spring morning or seeing a smile on the face of a close friend.

If you live near a sunflower field - go see it.  If you know where some are blooming in a backyard garden take a look and a picture.

And here's the biggest idea of them all - if you can't see a flower, then be the flower - a ray of sunshine in somebody's life with a kind word, a good deed, or a peaceful smile.

Smile. Sunshine!