The deep velvet luster of this sunflower suggests its lofty station in the royal garden hierarchy. Its maroon flower heads nod, turn, and wave regally from their high thrones as they follow the sun’s arc across the summer sky. Not content just to hover above loftily, sunflower blooms are useful, too: their seeds provide sustenance for migratory birds, oil for cooking, ornaments for palaces, and snacks for hungry humans of every class.
The Package Each year, Hudson Valley Seeds commissions contemporary artists from around the United States to tell the story of a particular seed variety. That art and those seeds combine to create an Art Pack, a unique celebration of the diverse stories of seeds and their stewards.
The Artist Artwork by Lisa Perrin. Lisa Perrin created the original art for this pack in 2011. Since then she's grown as an artist. She created this updated version, nodding to the old art (hanging on the wall) and adding new elements that tell the global story of sunflower cultivation.
