Poor little daffodils (narcissi) have made an early appearance and are braving the wind and the rain.

Well the day of reckoning has arrived. Today is the day we had to see how we measured up for the Sunflower Challenge.

Growing sunflowers is one of those fantastic childhood traditions that is so satisfyingly heartwarming to pass onto children. The seeds sprout so quickly, and in those early days the seedlings almost grow in front of your eyes.

So although we won’t be winning any prizes this year, the taking part has been very worthwhile, and it was for a great cause too, supporting Compton Hospice.

We haven’t got any flowers as yet, but our tallest stem is at 125 cm.

She loves that they are now taller than her.

If there had been a (boobie) prize for the smallest sunflower produced in last years sunflower club, our bonsai specimen would surely have won.

So what makes us return for another dose of humiliation with this years challenge? Well it’s all for a good cause for one, and you can’t leave your worst in show crown for someone to come along and snatch unchallenged, can you?

So, we’re off. We planted them today, the sun was shining. That has to be a good omen I hope. We are going to nurture them and if all else fails I’ll knit me a winner.

For more sunflower inspired crafts & how to’s visit Cathy over at Nurture Store.

This weeks theme from Tara at Sticky Fingers is life’s simple pleasures.

What a lovely prompt. Especially in springtime, when all the winter drudgery is starting to fall away. It conjures up all kinds of lovely things, giggles of my children, the sound of them playing outside or jumping on the trampoline. Going to see the ducks for the third time in a day.

A sit down after the school pick up with a cup of tea, waiting for dinner to be ready, in daylight, makes everything seem so much more cheerful.

I also love to see things growing, going out and about and seeing the snowdrops & then the daffodils make an appearance. That’s why I have chosen this image as my simple pleasure, sat on my kitchen windowsill, I have seen these grow, sprout & bloom before my very eyes over the last couple of weeks-something to make me smile whilst doing the dishes.

Just starting to bloom

2 days later

I think the tête a tête daffodils could bloom today or tomorrow. The scent from the hyacinth is amazing, you can smell it before you even open the door into the kitchen.

Another pleasure (simple or otherwise) is finding time to knit. My family think I am bonkers, but why shouldn’t a plant pot have a little jacket?

I’m off check out everybody else’s entries now.

Inspired by Rachel’s Tuesday Treasure post, I thought I’d share what I am treasuring today.

I had a dead bush on my doorstep, to match the dead hanging baskets left over from summer. I went to the garden centre late on Saturday & did a trolley dash in the dark, whilst trying to keep a toddler & six year old in sight. They were more attracted to the Christmas sparkle, aquariums & talking parrot, than choosing winter blooms.

My stash turned out to not look too bad in daylight, so we braved the cold & damp Sunday morning & planted the empty pots up. Now every time we open the front door or pull up on the drive we are greeted with some cheerful winter colour. So voila! My Tuesday Treasure.

No laughing!

We started off really well with Nurture Stores sunflower club, we even won the seeds.

We planted the seeds.

Planting the seeds 28 March 2010

The seedlings sprouted quickly,

Seeds sprout 8 April 2010

and were very healthy specimens.

We planted them out

The suspense must be killing you – what did we get…

13 July 2010

It’s really rather pathetic isn’t it?

That isn’t the worst though, look at the ones that didn’t make it:

We do have another which is ‘about’ to bloom, I’m sure:

If it isn’t eaten alive, first.

Then as if the mocking from Nurture Store on Twitter today, about her Jack and The Beanstalk sunflowers, wasn’t bad enough. I also have this laughing at me from my neighbour’s garden. A case of here’s what you could have won, eh?

You may have noticed the lovely Sunflower Club badge over in the sidebar. We won some sunflower seeds from Nurture Store in February, and the advice given was to plant in March.  So last Sunday we had a lovely afternoon planting our seeds.

Demonstrating everything you need for sunflower planting!

Filling the pots with compost.

Making the holes.

Planting the seeds.

Watered, sheltered and eagerly awaiting green shoots.