Wyoming conjures up thoughts of the Old West, cowboys and Indians, ranches, and wide open spaces. The point is, bright yellow sunflowers typically don’t factor into most people’s idea of the Cowboy State.
Yet, you’ll find a magical field of them here, if you know where to look. Though they aren’t native Wyoming plants, it turns out that our growing conditions are practically tailor made for sunflowers.
A magical sight can be found in the southeast corner of Wyoming, just outside Laramie.
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A glorious field of sunflowers might be one of the last things you expect to see stretching out to meet the gorgeous Wyoming horizon.
Duncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co - @thelastminute/Flickr
Wyoming is known for its beautiful wildflowers and some, like the black-eyed Susan, even resemble sunflowers in some ways.
Ryan Taylor/Flickr
However, this field of flowers wasn’t planted by Mother Nature.
metin.gul/Flickr
As it turns out, sunflowers thrive in dry conditions where the land has to be irrigated and farmers can control how much water the plants get. That means a lot of the land in Wyoming is perfect for cultivating sunflowers.
Tony Webster/Flickr
The growing conditions in Wyoming drew the attention of companies in North Dakota and Minnesota. Much of the crops grown here will be exported to Europe.
Lana/Flickr
Late July through September is the best time to see sunny flowers in full-bloom before they’re harvested.
climb1mt/Flickr
It can be surprising to stumble on such a bright and beautiful sight as a sunflower field in Wyoming, but it’s an experience you won’t forget.
Duncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co - @thelastminute/Flickr
Actually, since local farmers signed on to grow sunflowers here a few years ago, fields of them have been popping up more and more. Where else have you seen bright and cheery sunflower patches in Wyoming?
Google Maps
Duncan Rawlinson - Duncan.co - @thelastminute/Flickr
Ryan Taylor/Flickr
metin.gul/Flickr
Tony Webster/Flickr
Lana/Flickr
climb1mt/Flickr
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