About The Project
The Science Behind the Great Sunflower Project
As you sit at the table today, do you know where the water you are drinking came from? 85% of the drinking water in San Francisco comes from the Sierra. How about the last prescription medicine you took? It probably originated from a natural source. Of the top 150 prescription drugs used in the U.S., 118 originate from natural sources: 74 percent from plants, 18 percent from fungi, 5 percent from bacteria, and 3 percent from a species of snake! And, where did the ingredients for your lunch and dinner come from? One of every three bites you took probably came from a plant pollinated by wild pollinators. This is just the beginning of list of the services provided by healthy, natural ecosystems.
Economists and ecologists have started working together to find a way to place a financial value the contribution of natural ecosystems to human existence. The estimates are eye-opening. For example, the value of pollination services from wild pollinators in the U.S. alone is estimated at four to six billion dollars per year. While these ecosystem services are currently produced for “free”, replacing the natural ecosystem would cost many trillions of dollars. Unless human activities are carefully planned and managed, valuable ecosystems will continue to be impaired or destroyed.
To maintain biodiversity and to meet the increasing demands for ecosystem services, we must move conservation science into cities (Rosenzweig 2003). Cities are important for conservation for two reasons. First, 80% of the United States population already lives in urban areas (United States Census Bureau 2003). Second, cities encompass about 3% of land (59.6 million acres) in the United States and 230,000 additional acres become urban each year. Because of their large human populations, cities are the places where many ecosystem services, such as environmental quality of life, are delivered (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). Given the growth of the urban population, it is clear that we need to develop the knowledge necessary for maintaining natural habitats in the urban setting and find a way to give urban dwellers access to nature.
We know that pollinators are declining in certain wild and many agricultural landscapes. However, little is known about urban pollinators. Our recent data on bumble bees in an urban setting suggests that urban bees may also be declining (McFrederick & LeBuhn 2006, Fenter and LeBuhn submitted). While the loss of these pollinators is important, it is more important to understand what effect these losses have had on pollinator services.
We do not know much about how healthy bee populations are maintained in an urban environment. Because natural habitats are uncommon in urban landscapes, they may not provide enough resources to support viable pollinator communities. However, if other habitats, such as urban gardens and restored areas, are sufficiently connected to natural habitat, then native populations may thrive.
By finding a way to track and value the goods and services provided by natural ecosystems, we will find a future in which conservation is not a luxury but a guiding principle of daily decision-making throughout the world. The data you collect from your sunflower willbe a start. It will provide an insight into how our green spaces in the urban, suburban and rural landscapes are connected as well as shedding light on how to help pollinators. What we need are innovative strategies to maximize the benefits of our wild and semi-wild habitat remnants. The Great Sunflower Project is the first step.
Comments
Seeds
I would like to plant Sunflowers at my new home and count the bees.How do I get the seeds from your project?
program for 2010?
My 1st grandchild died 1 year ago, today. Last year I failed to follow through with confirming on the email. I am hoping that you may be providing seeds again this year. I would love very much to participate. I was able to start a small memorial garden last year. I have plans to expand it and will have the energy to do more this year. (I have been gardening for 15 years) I enjoy seeing bees, lady bugs, even small spiders in the garden. Most important no harmful chemicals used. Also receiving the seeds and participating will be a great honor to my angel. Thank you. Please let me know.
Seeds for this year
We are providing seeds though we are asking people to contribute $3 to cover the costs of mailing primarily. We have enough seeds crushed in the mail that we need to switch to bubble wrap envelopes which changes our mailing costs to over $1 per seed packet. With over 85,000 people signed up to get seeds, that is a lot of money to raise to send them for free! I'm hoping that next year, we'll be able to reward all the people who enter data with free seeds. Keep your fingers crossed. This is a tough climate for fundraising.
Thanks
Joining the Great Sunflower Project
I just found this site while researching for this years garden. I plant a garden every year but this year my garden will have another purpose. In addition to feeding my family, feeding butterflies and bees, and educating my children, I will also take part in the Bee Count. I know my children will be excited to do this as well. I hope I see at least as many as I saw last year!
lemon queen seed
Lemon Queen sunflower seed is also available at the Seed Savers Exchange. I found that out AFTER I had ordered the seed from Renee's/
sunflower seed 2009
My Sunflower seeds never grew.
Will try again next year
My 8 year old daughter and I are very disappointed. Due to the rainy, cool summer our plants took a long time to get established and start growing. Finally, we had twelve beautiful plants growing and one night last week the deer came and devoured them all (they left their footprints). Some look like they are trying to make a comeback but I don't think we'll get any sunflowers this late since we live in NW Connecticut. We've had lots of bees in our vegetable garden though.
Edward O. Wilson
Hello,
Just signed up on this site and look forward to reporting bee activity on the Sonoma Coast. This is a great book on Edward O. Wilson, a biologist and pioneer in the application of economics and resource allocation.
http://www.amazon.com/Consilience-Knowledge-Edward-O-Wilson/dp/067976867...
Best Regards,
Scot Sier
http://www.jennerrental.blogspot.com
Counting Bees
Hello Everyone,
I have one six foot sunflower in bloom and have been counting bees this week. I have four additional sunflowers getting ready to bloom.
The seeds worked well for me.
Donations
I just read about the project in Sunset Mag and joined right away. I would like to make a donation but can't seem to find on the website to donate online. Please help! Thanks
Jennifer.bystrom@sbcglobal.ner
Sunflowers & Bees Galore
Hi,
I live in Stockbridge, GA and this spring and summer have been great. Our vegetable garden did wonderful for the first time in several years. Talk about being sick of tomatoes and they are still coming. Our cantaloupes are huge. We picked one yesterday and it weights about 4 lbs. The watermelons are starting to get big to. Can't wait for the cantaloupe to rippen.
The sunflower seeds I received and planted are in full bloom along with several other different seeds we planted. We have been planting sunflowers out by our garden for many years and they always do really good. We have no lack of bees either. Will try and get out to take some pictures today and post them.
Lousy growing season, again!
I feel bad because this is the second year we've requested seeds and we have yet to be able to make an observation! Here in New Hampshire we've had 2 consecutive rainy and cold summers, and the sunflowers aren't growing all that well. Last year it was the end of August before I had a bloom on mine. On the flip side, the sweet pea I have outside my front door has had heaps of bees of all varieties. I know I can't officially record those for this study, but I would imagine it's still good news! So, we'll keep waiting for the sunflowers to grow up and bloom! I just wanted to make sure you all knew that we're waiting on our plants to grow, and our lack of observations isn't for lack of trying!
Thanks from Canada
Thanks for including Canadians in your project. Can't wait to get my seeds and start planting. This is a great project and I'll be mentioning it on my blog at www.gooddeedaday.wordpress.com -- And thanks to the commenters who shared planting tips. I need all the help I can get!
- Deb from Toronto
water for bees
Bees need water. In my area this is always a concern, but with many areas experiencing drought, and especially in urban areas where sprinklers systems or hand watering - supplimental- is the rule, the bees have no access to the water they need. www.beesfordevelopment.org has some info on this (go to information center/managing honeybee colonies) I'm sure other sites do as well. I find that people seldom think of that even for birds anymore, and butterflies,bees,and other insects need special access to get to the water.
water
bpolt
What are ways to provide water for bees? You imply that urban sprinklers are NOT helpful.
Yellow jackets in my yard drink from the water at the base of a fountain, though they sometimes fall in and drown. Would a pan of still water be the best choice? Other suggestions?
water for bees
This works for butterflies--it might work for bees, too. Put out a shallow pan of water filled with pebbles. It gives the butterflies a place to sit while they drink. A shady spot is better, so the water doesn't evaporate so quickly. Clean it regularly so you don't breed mosquitoes.
bees in trees
We have 6 large choke-cherry trees in our yard, they produce a non-edible fruit and make a huge mess. The only way to keep them from making a mess is to have the trees sterilized, and I can't do that because it would mean the trees would not flower. So in order to keep our bees buzzing around the central coast, I will deal with the messy fruit. :)
Live how you want to be treated by others...
Chokecherries
If those are really chokecherries, they are edible. They make fantastic preserves--jam, jelly--and syrup. Maybe someone in your neighborhood would want them if you don't.
request seeds?
hello!
i thought everyone who joined the project would receive seeds. here is my mailing address at home- i will plant the seeds at the child parent center i work at and also in pots on my front balcony.
thanks
lori bortnick
115 south western #2
chicago, illinois 60612
Just signed up. We too have
Just signed up. We too have noticed very few bees in our front yard, that normally frequent our Rosemary bush. Co-incidentally, the neighbor across the street pulled out many bushes which were likely the source of a hive or too. I'll be planting my Sunflower seeds in various areas of our garden, some in shade, some in full sun, with all four exposures; less than 1 mile from the ocean. We are fortunate to have many bird-friendly trees & bushes, bird baths, palm trees. Not far from us is a preserved parcel of land that our Nature Conservancy maintains. Some Southern California members may have heard about our recent release of rare PV Blue Butterflies, so it's a fairly nature friendly area.
Glad to participate in such a great project.
Bees on Holly
Are you only interested in honey bees on Sunflowers? There is a hedge of old holly bushes coming into bloom in front of my house. This afternoon I sighted 2 honey bees among the blooms. Like the bees that swarmed among the clover in my front yard as a child these bees aren't going anywhere except to the next bloom. This is the first time I've seen any honey bees in this yard and I've been here for three years. Are there other sites to submit this type of sighting?
Martti C
bees on other plants
bpolt
I see NO replies so far to comments, but perhaps I don't know where to look. Probably your question has been answered.
I would have liked to see an answer to your question about reporting bees seen on other plants.
bee speaker
Kathy Hartzell of Larkspur, CA asks:
Does the Sunflower project have a speaker available to talk with a group about the value of encouraging bees in the garden? I have a slot open in late April for a speaker to a group of avid gardeners who would be delighted and start the buzz locally about bees. The event is in Corte Madera, CA. about 30 minutes north of SF State University.
Please feel free to contact me at khartzell@larkspurcityhall.org
Thank you!
Kids versus Bees/Any sunflower seeds okay?
I was planning on planting some sunflower seeds in May anyway from the seeds that we got off a sunflower that my daughter planted at our old house. It's amazing how many seeds came off of just one flower. Is it okay that I plant those also, along with the ones that they send to me? And how far apart should we plant them? Also, now that I know about this project I will turn it into a learning experience for my daycare children. But now, that I am hearing about all the bees that will be attracted to the flowers, should I be concerned about having these flowers adjacent to the yard where the kids will be playing? I know from experience that bee stings are no fun!! I don't think Sunflowers have a long season, correct? So, should I even be concerned about that?
Lawton's Den Daycare
Bees and kids
We had a full garden last summer, which included a bunch of sunflowers and an apple tree. It was in the backyard where my 2 children played everyday for hours, ages 4 and 18 months. There were bees of all sorts everywhere - wasps, honeybees, and bumblebees included. We loved to watch them up close, and did so frequently. None of us were ever stung. I am allergic to bees, too - and never felt in any danger around the sunflowers.
For the most part, honey bees and bumblebees will leave you alone if you don't bother them. Wasps and yellowjackets are trickier and tend to sting more readily. (stinging won't kill them, as it will bees - one reason why bees won't do it unless they think they are in danger.) The best trick I know for separating the two, however, is to put out a bowl of apple cider with a bit of dish soap mixed in. The wasps and yellowjackets love it - and will drown in it. The bees leave it alone. We caught 100+ wasps in 2 days that way, and not one bee. Just set the bowl well away from the area where the kids will play. They also sell wasp traps that employ the same basic idea.
Hope that helps!
Wasps
My son and his family have had an interesting experience with wasps in their yard. They've had them for the past few years, but have observed that they don't sting any of the family members, only other people who come to visit. Apparently they've become familiar with their scent or something.
Wasps
Wasps are no fun for kids but they do play a beneficial role in the garden. They eat pests that want to eat your plants. I've seen this first hand. I had a pot of mint near my back door and watched one afternoon as a couple of wasps wiped out an infestation of little green caterpillars that were trying to eat my mint.
Martti C
Bees eating from hummingbird feeder
I live in Tucson AZ and in the last 3 weeks have had a mass of bees eating the necter out of my humming bird feeder. I always have sunflowers in the spring and fall so I hope they are still around. Is this behavior odd for bees?
common, yes.... safe, ?
I don't think it's at all uncommon (hence the beeguards many bird feeders have) but I have heard that it is not good for bees to drink the syrup we prepare for hummingbirds. I prefer to have "trumpet" shaped flowers for the hummingbirds rather than cook for them ... but that's me.
C-:
If you don't ask, the answer's always no. (the truth behind 'there are no stupid questions')
Description of project
See the September-October 2008 issue of the American Scientist, p 375-376 for an excellent review, "Of Sunflowers and Citizens" , describing this honeybee project. Your public library is likely to have a copy of the pulication.
Bee Photos
Can you send me your information in a a hard copy - especially the photos and descriptions of the bees and the form for submitting data??
Never lose the Faith!
I am a new member and I can't tell you how thrilled I am about this project! I am currently in college majoring in Ecology and i think it's wonderful that there are people out there willing to make a difference and to save our planet and humanity. It is imperative that we never stop trying to save our ecosystem, we must continue to think of our future and our children! Keep the faith!! :)
Jessica Marie
New Jersey
Pumpkin Plants
My grandgirls and I had already planted sunflowers when I found your site. However, my husband was injured so I haven't been able to devote the time to the Sunflower Project. However, the girls also planted pumpkins in pots since we're urban people and the bright yellow flowers are attracting the bees like crazy. Thought I'd pass this along in the case you have any plants in the future for another project.
I'm a new member & reading
I'm a new member & reading your comments are helping me some. My husband & I are redoing our whole back yard & I can hardly wait to get our seeds. We just replanted our plants in pots & also redid our front yard. In the last couple of weeks I've seen big bumle bees. I've seen 3 bumble bees around our flowers that are lilies. We hope to see more bees. We noticed our orange tree didn't bloom well this year.):): Maybe because of no bees???
'just keeps goin'
I am a hobby farmer and a hobby beekeeper. I realize the importance of natural diversity to our human sustainability.
My sunflowers have resulted from a few years of feeding birds during their migrations or winter deprivations. Two varieties stand out: the Mammoth and the Indiana native. While the Mammoth produces a marketable head -- only once or twice during a season, the Indiana native continues to produce as long as the weather is conducive -- small heads, small seeds, but palatable to a large variety of animals and birds -- and bees!
During the recent years of drought, garden maintained flowers preserved the treasure of bees, both native and induced. I do not discourage any pollen- or nectar-seeking bee; I try to provide to an acceptable level of self-sacrifce so that we all survive.
Squirrels
How does one keep the squirrels from damaging the sunflowers?
Back off squirrels!
Just joined and excited about getting sunflowerseeds and making some bees happy!...I just hope the squirrels will leave the plants alone, which they often did not in my old garden, they enjoyed messing with the flowerheads as soon as they opened!
Kordula
I'll be starting this
I'll be starting this project soon with my wife we picked up seeds locally and a farmer down the road every few seasons used to grow huge sunflowers that you would see high above the bushes around his place which is small not like a farm you'd find out west. But he's also given us some tips. And as mothers day is coming up i just got my wife some new tools for the garden she's going to be so excited.
Sunflower tips
My daughters and I are newbies. We will be growing our sunflowers in large ppots in the "backyard" we share with our Apt complex. We would love to know what tips the farmer gave you, as we are very inexperienced.
Ready to Start this Project - Waiting for my SunFlower Seeds!
Hello,
I register about 3 weeks ago & I have not yet received my seeds. Please let me know how long will it be before I get my seeds. I am all ready to start! Please call me or e-mail me as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Samuel Bagwell
Miami, Florida
sunny sunflowers
Awaiting my seeds and preparing their little beds meanwhile. We had a structure built for the dogs, an outdoor kennel and I will plant the sunflowers bordering that. Oh dear, I hope the bees aren't drawn to the doggies...
Wavin from PA.,
imabrat
Waiting for winter to leave Minnesota
I am looking forward to joining your project. I have not yet decided whether or not to plan the seeds in a garden plot or pot. I have noticed a decline in the bee population in our area, and it is of concern. When the willows would blossom in the spring, they used to be alive with bees, but in the past 2 years I have not observed this. I will not be able to submit data on the sunflower and bees for quite some time, but am willing to watch and observe other bee nectar and pollen sources and report until my sunflowers are planted and bloom.
new to gardening and Home schooling
We are going to do this as a home school project.. we were so excited when we heard about this project. My son has a fear of bees and I hope this will also help him overcome this fear when we learn about everything! our newest project is growing catnip ! Thanks for the opportunity to help count the bees and having a great learning experience at the same time :)
sunflowers
I'M NEW TO THIS GROUP. I PLANTED SEEDS LAST YEAR, WELL THEY GREW UP ON THERE ON. I HAVE A COCKATEIL AND WHEN I CHANGED HER FOOD I THREW HER OLD FOOD OUT THE SUNFLOWER SEEDS JUST TOOK ROOT AND GREW!! THEY WERE SO PRETTY! I'M HOPING THESE SEEDS GROW AS FAST. BUT I DID'NT GET TO SAVE ANY SEEDS CAUSE THE WILD BIRDS ATE THEM! THAT WAS FINE WITH ME, I DONT KNOW HOW TO HARVEST THEM OR WHEN. DOES ANYONE KNOW? CAN YOU TELL ME HOW? I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
Very Cool Project
I was given this information from my Master Gardener sister, who also shared it with our three other sisters. I am the least interested in gardening; however, I have requested my packet of seeds and will plant them as soon as they arrive. I would like to state though, that both of my sisters received wild flower seeds as opposed to sunflower seeds. I'm trusting it doesn't matter since I have bees that pollinate all over my dandelions in the yard. Does it matter?? In any event, I'll enjoy wild flowers as much as sunflowers since the State of GA grows the wild flowers in the interstate medians. Happy Growing!!
SEED PLANS
I plan to plant the sunflower seeds along with several other kinds of flowers and produce in my backyard this summer.
Planting Location
We will be planting them on the 2nd Floor Terrace in builtin planters & pots.
We will be planting them in pots in around the main courtyard.
used to be a beekeeper
i used to keep bees as a hobby. being inside a beehive forces you to pay attention _right_now_ and having grouchy bees teaches you humility! but i had to stop because the bees got sick and then gigantic hornets carried off the survivors. a surprising thing i saw was that a beehive in the suburbs did REALLY well in the Spring because of flowers and bushes blooming in yards but beehives in the countryside did badly because they were surrounded by empty corn/soybean fields and there wasn't anything for them to eat, so i had to give them sugar water. and also, people blame honeybees for what yellowjackets do to them (like crawl down inside their drinks at a park, which honeybees don't do).
Urban Bees
Just a comment I'd like to share. I ran a business in the Old Colt Firearms Plant in Hartford CT. While inside the building we could hear a buzzing, I mean a loud buzzing! We couldn't figure it out until we walked to another wing of the building and used binoculars to look across to the 4th floor to see a huge wet spot in the brick of the building. The spot had to be 3 feet in diameter, at the top we could see the bees going in a hole where the mortar had fallen out. The wet spot was honey dripping through the brick. The bees had a hive between the brick and the inner plaster walls. We imagine that hive had to be at least 10 years old but we really had no idea. But the buzzing sounded like a freight train. It did show however how adaptable animals, bees included can be.
Counting bees at the big house
Here's a quote from Albert Einstein: "If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would have only four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man."
This quote (heard last year on The Bill Maher Show) got me thinking and talking. Good thing because someone remembered my concern and forwarded this site to me. My husband and I are excited to participate at our home even though he's allergic to bee stings. I also work at San Quentin and hope to pitch this program to the Vocational Landscaping instructor as well as the volunteer gardener. In the meantime, it couldn't hurt to put one in a pot outside my classroom.