Cardinals and Sunflowers

The cast-offs from the bird feeders around the outside of the kitchen bay occasionally sprout up into, at most, medium-sized sunflowers. What I like about this picture in particular was the quizzical expression offered by the nearby cardinal when I snapped this shot, which was actually taken sometime last summer.

I do have one sturdy-looking sunflower coming up this fall, near that same feeder. This is a picture I took of it in mid-September, and it shows a healthy-looking bee taking full advantage of his sole claim to the property at his feet.