Matthew 13:3-9

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 13:3-9

I love sunflowers, but whenever I try to grow them, they don't do well. 

This sunflower wasn't "sown" by  me.  Last winter, a seed was flung from a bird feeder to the ground by a feathered friend. Over the course of the spring and summer, the seed took hold and grew into this lovely sunflower. 

I couldn't help but think about the parable of the sower. The soil for this sunflower happens to be in a flower bed, making it very good because of the care that is taken of the flowers and plants grown in it.  
My own "life soil" needs just as much care so that my "flowers" (or fruits) will show beautifully like this sunflower. Consistent reading of the Bible, praying, Bible studies, Sunday School, and Worship all make for rich healthy soil.