Those who frequent the Neuse River Greenway Trail may be in for a surprise this weekend – thousands of radiant sunflowers along the path are in bloom. But as beautiful as they are, there is a purpose behind their presence.
During the months of June and July, there is a special treat for greenway users along the Neuse River Trail. Guests will be able to enjoy a beautiful field of sunflowers.
During the months of June and July, there is a special treat for greenway users along the Neuse River Trail. Guests will be able to enjoy a beautiful field of sunflowers.
The fields serve as an application site for biosolids from the Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility. The stabilized sludge (biosolids) is applied to the field as a fertilizer. The sunflowers are planted to keep the nitrogen-rich soil from washing into the streams and rivers in the watershed. Finally, the sunflowers are harvested and the seeds are used to produce biodiesel.
The sunflowers have become an annual attraction for residents and tourists alike. As the plants grow each year, so does the anticipation until one day the field of green along the trail’s Mile Marker 23 is transformed into a sea bursting with swaying, yellow blooms.
The flowers can be seen along the trail around Mile Marker 23 of the Neuse River Trail, near 2441 Brown Field Drive Road. To view the sunflowers, you can park at the Auburn-Knightdale lot located at 2901 Auburn-Knightdale Rd (approximately 2 miles to the sunflowers) or you can park at the Mial Plantation access point located at 6008 Mial Plantation Rd (approximately 1.5 miles to the sunflowers).
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