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Sunflowers at Dix Park and the heat: The week’s best photos from our photojournalists

By Ben Pennington

Here’s a curated selection of from around the Triangle and beyond as captured through the lens of News & Observer photojournalist Ben Pennington. This feature can be seen in Sunday’s newspaper, as well as in our online Edition. See it at eedition.newsobserver.com.

Bees swarmed the blooming sunflowers at the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh.
Bees swarmed the blooming sunflowers at the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Visitors admired the blooming sunflowers at the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh.
Visitors admired the blooming sunflowers at the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Sunflowers during at their peak bloom filled the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh.
Sunflowers during at their peak bloom filled the Dix Park Sunflower Field on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Raleigh. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com
Visitors to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport observation park watched as aircraft traveled down the runway during a vibrant sunset on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Morrisville, North Carolina.
Visitors to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport observation park watched as aircraft traveled down the runway during a vibrant sunset on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Morrisville, North Carolina. Ben Pennington ben.pennington@newsobserver.com

This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 2:38 PM with the headline "Sunflowers at Dix Park and the heat: The week’s best photos from our photojournalists."

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