Sunflowers. Growing sunflowers can be one of the most rewarding endeavors when
planting a garden. For many, the sunflower is one of the first seeds many children may
have planted at a school or community garden, or even a farm if you grew up in a rural
community. An easy plant to grow — tolerant of drought, beneficial to ecosystems,
providing a nutritious food source for people and animals, a boon for pollinators –
the list of why sunflowers are great is a long one. Sunflowers are an important plant
worldwide – and have a fascinating story – a story that is still evolving.
Would you like to learn more?
Here are topics in the full files you can download:
(with some examples)
- Sunflowers in History and Sunflowers today.
- Sunflower products benefit people worldwide.
- Sunflowers grown at home and commercially are a versatile and sustainable crop.
- Sunflowers are pollinator friendly.
One of the most promising plants for pollinators of all types, farmers have for decades in the U.S. planted companion fields adjacent to huge food crops such as corn. They are a food source for an uncountable number of bird species, rodents, small and even large mammals. They provide links of all types for food webs. This is true not only on massive farms but also in your backyard. Sunflowers of course offer nectar and pollen, and not only are they a resource for wild and managed bees – they are crucial to butterflies, moths, flies, hoverflies, beetles, and myriad other important wildlife.
- Sunflowers as a symbol of hope amidst tragedy.
Early during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, a video on social media shows a Ukrainian woman bravely on her own confronting heavily armed Russian soldiers – telling the latter to “take these seeds, put them in your pockets so at least sunflowers will grow when you all lie down here” – on Ukraine’s soil.
The sunflower, an ever important traditional facet of Ukrainian culture, has since become a global symbol of hope, resistance, and unity.
Photo-copyright-2022—Hakan-Akgun–SOPA–Light-Rocket–Getty Images —– Photo-copyright-2022–Ukraineworld.org—articles-ukraine-explained–putin-misread-ukraine —– Photo-copyright-2022–Reuters-Images-UK —– Photo-copyright-2022—Diane-BeZucha—Wisconsin-Public-Radio—Protest–Russian-born-students–University-of-Wisconsin-and Wisconsin Educational-Communications
Download the first two “Planting For Pollinators”;
“Sunflower Resources” and “Sunflower Tips and Suggestions” files here:
Resources to Learn Much More About Amazing Sunflowers
Sunflower seeds – Tips and Suggestions
….. Thank you for growing sunflowers …..
Questions? — Want to learn more about “planting for pollinators” at B.C.C.? — Want to learn about seed saving technique and seed sharing for next year? — Would you like to receive Green Team posts via e-mail? — Would you like to be sent the two new “planting for pollinators” full documents? — Please e-mail: roberta_hayes@student.berkshirecc.edu
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………