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M3 Ranches is at it again this year, with another gorgeous farm of sunflower crops for us to explore. Frank, Neil, and Colin Muller have invited us to soak in the beauty of fields upon fields of sunflower blooms that stretch over a third of a mile and 80 acres along rd 95.
As our annual visitors will know, Frank takes special note of the plant growth cycles to find us the perfect sunflower bloom dates. This year, the magic weekend is the 11th and 13th of June!
These sunflower fields are adjacent to M3’s main office, which houses a shop, tractors and other large equipment, seasonal tools, and farm junk.
The Muller’s farm several thousand acres in both Yolo and Sutter counties. In the fields, you may notice, “There’s a couple of rows of what we call a male variety that will produce pollen for a female variety adjacent,” says Colin Muller. “So you’ll see a pattern of, sometimes, six female plants and then two male plants, six female, two male, et cetera.” The pattern ensures the bees pollinate the female plants with the correct pollen to produce the hybrid that the seed companies want. Most of the sunflowers are grown and harvested each year for their seeds to be used for their oil or in various culinary uses.
M Three Ranches is a partnership between Frank and his two sons, Neil and Colin. The Muller family have been farming for three generations, over 50 years, in the Sacramento Valley, and are recognized as being a lead grower of tomatoes, peppers, garlic, seed crops, olives, walnuts, and almonds. Frank Muller is a stellar Art & Ag committee member, you may recognize him as the party host for the ArtFarm Harvest every year!
Speaking of ArtFarm, this year the shindig will be on October 26th, mark your calendars now! Don’t forget to drop your entry off by August 26.
See you in the blooms!
Jenna
P.S. Artists mray arrive any time within this time frame and must leave the property by noon. Greeter for check in is available for questions until 10am.
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