Crystal A. Proxmire

Special to the Free Press

This story originally appeared in the Oakland County Times.

With a stalk that is too big for one hand and a height estimated at more than 20 feet, the mammoth sunflower in front of Michael Purdy’s Ferndale home has been attracting a lot of attention.

“People are totally freaking out, stopping to take pictures,” Purdy said.

The tallest sunflower in the world, according to Guinness World Records, was grown in Germany in 2014, reaching just over 31 feet tall.

Though Purdy’s is not record-breaking, it is certainly an oddity.

This is especially true since he didn’t even plant it.

Purdy’s yard on Academy Street is a wonderland of nature’s colors and textures. He has lived there for 11 years, but started using his front lawn as garden space in 2015 after Ferndale passed a native vegetation ordinance allowing homeowners more freedom in their landscaping choices.

“The tomato plants took over, and they come back every year. I’ve got some pumpkins, and a watermelon,” Purdy said.

There are also roses and zinnias, plus a porch full of potted plants. In the area between the sidewalk and the street is a rather tall sunflower patch.

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But the seed that started the giant somehow found its way to the side with the tomatoes and melons, growing perfectly in the corner of the yard.

“I don’t know how it happened, or how it got so big, but it’s made for an interesting summer,” Purdy said.

“I did use the compost from the city in my yard, and I know that is good stuff. I had a squash last year that was this big,” he said, as he held up his hands about a foot and a half apart.

When asked whether he recommended that others create garden-lawns like he did, Purdy was clear. “Absolutely,” he said. “I don’t have to water. I don’t have to mow. I don’t use fertilizer or any chemicals like you do with grass. I get great food. There’s so many reasons. … We waste so much water, for what? Green grass. This is so much better for the environment.”

The bees, butterflies, and birds are also appreciative of the habitat, with many fluttering around between the flowers and the foliage. While many sunflowers remain thin with only one, or a few buds, this one has grown not only tall, but wide. On a recent Thursday there were 36 blossoms and more on the way.

The giant sunflower is located on Academy just west of Paxton, and Purdy is used to visitors. “It’s fun watching people slamming on their brakes and turning around to see it.”

Come fall, Purdy thinks he may need a saw to cut the stalk down. He has already had to trim the lower limbs and leaves because they were blocking the sidewalk. The leaves alone are bigger than his head. He also has tied the plant to a stake to prevent it from falling over in a storm.

He said it will be strange when it is gone, and hopes for a long summer.

“I’ll have a lot of sunflower seeds at least,” he said.