Every fall, the North Shore of Lake Jesup transforms into a stunning sea of yellow as the “swamp sunflower” blooms in expansive shallow water marshes.
This native wildflower, known scientifically as Helianthus angustifolius, thrives in the floodplain habitat that the St. Johns River Water Management District manages around the lake.
Graham Williams, a land manager with the district, explains that the sunflowers come up from seed early in the summer with the rainy season. They grow throughout the summer and bloom in a remarkable synchronized display each year around Oct. 1, lasting about two to three weeks…