Off the road in northern St. Louis county lies a hidden treasure. Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and spans more than 4,000 acres!
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| Columbia Bottom Conservation Department 801 Strodtman Road St. Louis, MO 63138 |
The MO Department of Conservation owns the property which is home to a variety of wildlife. It is a great spot for birdwatching, fishing, wildlife sightings, hiking and...sunflower viewing! 🌻
Most years the staff plants 14 fields of these sunny delights for mourning dove management. Not only do the birds enjoy the seed, but they seek refuge in the dried stalks after the blooms are gone. They are also hunted there (🙁). Flooding prevented sunflower planting last year, but they were able to resume in 2020. Seed sowing is staggered so that visitors can enjoy the beauty from early July through mid August. Most of the fields are a short hike from the road, but some will be visible from the car in coming weeks.
My mother and I thoroughly enjoyed a visit to see the spectacular sunflowers today. The contrast of the yellow blooms against the blue sky is certain to make anyone smile!
You can't beat an outing like this on a pretty summer day. The song of birds in the background, the warm sun shining brightly, bees and butterflies floating in the air all make it a sunflower field of dreams.
Blessings to you!