No Stopping for Sunflower Pics on MD 146: Maryland State Police

MONKTON, MD — As sunflowers have sprung from the fields of Monkton, the paparazzi has cropped up as well, to the point that police have had to intervene.

Now, state troopers from the Bel Air Barrack are cautioning motorists about causing traffic hazards near one of the area's top sunflower sighting spots.

"Please do not stop along Jarrettsville Pike north of Hess Road to photograph the sunflower field," Maryland State Police said in a statement this week. "It creates a tremendous traffic hazard as well as a danger to the pedestrians."

In general, Maryland sunflowers bloom from late August through October.

The sunflower field on Jarrettsville Pike near Hess Road is owned by Clear Meadow Farm, which produces grain, soybeans, sunflowers and other crops. According to the farm, the best viewing time for the sunflowers is from Aug. 27 to Sept. 11. The Maryland Sunflower Festival in Monkton is Sept. 11.

While there is usually another sunflower field open for photographers and sunflower enthusiasts at Broom's Bloom in Bel Air, staff posted on Saturday that the sunflowers were no longer in bloom and "the field looks rough."

• VIEWFINDER: Sunflowers in Harford County Brighten a Cloudy Day
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Photo by Ed Rybczynski.