Alfred’s Sunflower Beds

August 4, 2025
Larry Hurley
Annual Plants, Inspiration
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Sunflowers on Rt. 1 at Behnke Nurseries — Bed of sunflowers, Helianthus annuus; Behnke Nurseries, Beltsville; planted by Alfred Millard

Long-time customers of Behnke Nurseries at Beltsville may recall that for many years, the southeast side of the property was dedicated to the sale and display of trees. When we moved the tree sales area to the north side so that it was easier for folks to shop, we had to fill that space. Some of it was turned into perennial and annual display gardens, but, in the beds that were lining the fence along Route One, our President, Alfred Millard, planted sunflowers.

They had multiple purposes. The primary purpose was to have an eye-catching display of flowers to entice people to come in. Sunflowers are also popular with bees and other pollinators, and we harvested the seed heads to give away to customers so that they could hang them out for the birds and squirrels. All in all, it was a great use of fallow land.

Bee's enjoying a sunflower at Behnke Nurseries

Larry Hurley

Larry Hurley worked at Behnke Nurseries from 1984 until the business was composted in 2019, primarily with the perennial department in growing, buying and sales.

Before landing at Behnke’s, he worked as a technician in a tissue culture lab, a houseplant “expert” at a florist shop, and inventory controller at a wholesale nursery in Dallas. With this and that, ten years passed.

When his wife Carolyn accepted a position at Georgetown University, Larry was hired at Behnke’s for the perennial growing department and garden center at Behnke’s Largo location.

In 2021, Larry and Carolyn moved back to Wisconsin to be closer to family and further from traffic. After 37 years in a shaded yard in Maryland, he is happy to have a sunny lot where he can grow all sorts of new perennials, if only he can keep the rabbits at bay. He also enjoys cooking, traveling, and the snowblower.