We live in a lush birch forest in the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains near the village of Talkeetna, Alaska. Growing a garden here is a challenging endeavor. Some years we have luck, some years we don't. It's all up to Mother Nature. In the late summer of 2021, Michelle and I hosted a "celebration of love" on our property in advance of our wedding in 2022. We wanted to be surrounded by flowers as we shared our special day with friends. That summer, Mother Nature gifted us with a bounty of sunflowers! The photograph that inspired this painting was taken in our garden on our special day. We had no idea there was such a thing as pink sunflowers until then.

The original painting was made to be auctioned off at the 40th annual Talkeetna Bachelor Auction on December 4, 2021. It was my last (and 6th) year to participate as a bachelor. In the six years I participated in the auctions, we raised over $160,000 to help local families in crisis as well as help fund local schools and non-profits. It never ceases to amaze me how generous people can be and what we can accomplish in our little community.