Photos: Sunflowers brighten La Salle County

The popular sunflower field at Matthiessen State Park is in full bloom this week.

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The popular sunflower field is in full bloom at Matthiessen State Park on Wednesday July 14, 2021. The field is located behind the model airplane field at the river area entrance. The sun flowers are planted every year. Park staff askes visitors to be respectful of the flowers and not to contaminate them. The park also has planted another sunflower field on the south side of the park off Route 71. This aerial photo was taken with permission through Matthiessen State Park. (Scott Anderson)

The sunflower patch is located behind the model airplane field at the river area entrance, off Route 178. The sun flowers are planted every year.

Park staff asks visitors to be respectful of the flowers and don’t remove them. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources also has planted another sunflower field on the south side of the park off Route 71.

Sunflower seeds first were planted at the state park more than 25 years ago in an effort to attract doves for hunting season. The flowers bloom through July, and by August they begin to seed and wilt through early September, all while attracting pollinators and providing shade for deer, opossums and raccoons.

The 60 acres of field dedicated to the flowers have attracted photographers and tourists alike from all around the state.