'A lot of the crops were on their last legs'
BLISSFUL rain arrived in Warwick just in time to save a popular sunflower crop from withering away.
Phil Crothers owns the sunflower crops on Willowvale Rd near the eight mile intersection, saying without the rain the crops would not have bloomed at all.
"It was essential, a lot of the crops were on their last legs hanging out for rain, basically this is the difference because getting a crop and not,” Mr Crothers said.
"It's beautiful rain and it just ideal on them really, it would have been nice to have got it a month ago but we'll take it when we get it.”
Mr Crothers planted his sunflower crops later than usual after hail storm wiped out his original crop in November.
Mr Crothers said the property was drenched by 30-40mm of rain between Monday and Tuesday.
"This rain has really been superb, it's what we've been aching for,” he said.
Before the rain, Mr Crothers said it was looking like a very poor crop.
"It'll be well below average yield but it's far better than the alternative which is no yield,” Mr Crothers said.
Some of the flowers have even started to bloom and the rest are expected to flourish in the next couple of weeks.
Mr Crothers invited people to take a drive down Willowvale Rd to enjoy the sight.
The sunflowers on the New England Highway at Mount Marshall are also owned by Mr Crothers.
He said most people had been respectful and careful around the crops.
"I'm really happy for people that are just there to enjoy them,” he said.
