Elsie Lange
Turning towards the light with their vivid yellow petals, sunflowers are a symbol of joy, summer and warmth – which is why Kylie Swain wanted to spread them across the Macedon Ranges.
Since October last year, the mother of four has been a part of the Sunflower Project, dropping off little bags of seeds to various pick up points for locals to join in.
Through social media, Ms Swain’s project grew – for a few months now, various locations across the Ranges have bloomed golden and bright.
“It was so nice to watch them grow from a little seed into beautiful flowers, the kids watched them as well and were so excited to see them come out,” Ms Swain said.
“It was very exciting, and even more exciting to see them all around the Macedon Ranges, popping up in peoples’ gardens and wherever they planted them.”
Now, as many of the other sunflowers have withered before the colder months, Ms Swain’s own crop has finally blossomed.
“The people who got their flowers to work, because it’s not always easy, but the ones who got them to work hopefully save the seed, then we’ll have really strong seed that’s grown been grown in Macedon Ranges before,” Ms Swain said.
“Then we’ll pop them back in the garden, have them flower again, and keep the process going each year.”
