This urban gardener by day and baker by night dreams of turning Chennai into a sunflower city

What began as a modest experiment in a few pots on a rooftop at Rutland Gate in Nungambakkam has now grown into a full-fledged movement. Home baker and urban entrepreneur Shefalii Dadabhoy initially planted a single patch of sunflowers without any grand ambitions, but today, schools, organisations, and even apartment complexes across the city are following her lead.

“I only started with pots and tubs as a tiny experiment on my terrace, and then moved to a mini field in my front garden,” says Ms. Shefalii. For this gardener, sunflowers bring irrefutable joy, and she believes even the smallest patch can light up someone’s day. “My experience with starting this on the terrace is exactly why I believe it can work in every urban home. What once started as a hobby is now a larger community,” she says.

And she is not alone in thinking that. Today, over 175 people are part of a ‘Chennai Sunflower City’ WhatsApp group, following in the footsteps of Ms. Shefalii. They often share snaps of golden-yellow blooms that have grown in their terrace gardens and request sunflower seeds. “Seeing this is very heartwarming, as they grow their own patch of sunshine,” she adds.

Donning the baker’s hat

By day, she digs into soil, but by night, Ms. Shefalii begins another passion project in her kitchen, which has now turned into a beloved full-time home bakery. Baking and gardening might be different worlds, but they are both extensions of creativity, she says.

“Baking took root during the pandemic, and it was also my way of sharing joy. It began with a small bag of Gratitude granola, then moved to floral brownies and pavlovas, and over time, it’s become a much-loved home bakery,” says Shefalii. “Both require patience, lots of experimentation, and a major skill — that is, attention to detail. And they are both about nurturing,” she says.

Trial and error

Of course, it has not all been smooth. Chennai’s intense sun, fickle rains, and bouts of water shortage have made gardening a tightrope walk. However, with a little bit of practice and experimentation, anything is possible, says the gardener. “I’ve had to experiment with watering schedules, types of soil, organic pest control, and choosing the right sunflower varieties,” adds Ms. Shefalii.

So far, Ms. Shefalii has distributed over 10,000 sunflower seeds and grown over 5,000 sunflowers in three cycles at her home garden. “It is already a large community now, but I hope to scale the Sunflower City initiative into a citywide greening movement. I want to collaborate with more schools, neighbourhoods, and even civic bodies,” says Ms. Shefalii, who is also planning to return to curated dining experiences when it comes to baking. “At the end of the day, both should be rooted in connection and care.”