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The Sunflower Fields of Manchester will not have a bloom this year, the field’s organizer said in a recent Facebook post to the field’s followers.

Jared Dawson said they didn’t have a long enough — or dry enough — window to get the seeds planted.

“We sit a little bit low compared to our neighbors — our soils are really heavy — they don’t drain well, and it takes a long time to dry them out,” he said.

This would have been the fifth year for the fields, with the effort starting initially under the direction of Dawson’s cousin, Johnny Olson — also known as Johnny Fish — who began a sunflower movement in the metro part of the state. Dawson, with the help of others in the area, has since taken over the effort locally.

Dawson, who is also a teacher at Southwest Middle School, said he was disappointed he would not be able to see everyone who comes each year to see the fields, not only from the area, but also from the Twin Cities and even out of state.

He was also disappointed they would not be able to provide a group with support in the same way they have in the past. Each year the fields have been dedicated to certain groups to recognize or show support during the course of the bloom.

The first year, the fields were dedicated to children who have died and their families. Another year honored those lost or battling cancer, and last year the theme centered around family, or those who feel like family, who have been lost to illness, suicide or accident. It also celebrated family members who have beaten an illness or celebrated momentous occasions, among others.

Dawson said in the post he was hopeful he could still think of a way to show support to a group this year in a different way.

““We’re not done, we’re not quitting, but Mother Nature said, ‘Hey, you know what? It’s a good time to take a little bit of a break as far as the sunflowers go,” he said.

Alpaca Shacka, which Dawson started with his daughter Grace, to help raise funds for their community event, will be open in October, November and December at the Dawson property. The business sells products made from alpaca fiber, including scarves and socks, among other items.

The family also still plans to have its “Dawson Family Christmas” event at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center, which raises money for the fields.