Press release

Contact: Gretchen LeBuhn
415-847-1716
sfbee@sfsu.edu

For immediate release
March 1, 2008

“The Great Sunflower Project!” creates a Buzz!
Continent-wide event focuses attention on Bees

San Francisco, CA—“The Great Sunflower Project!” created a buzz this spring and continues year-round with activities such as gardening, sunflower and bee watching, art, and science. These events are raising awareness about the world's most important pollinators - our native bees. You can help us gain a better understanding of which bees are declining where- and what habitats they need to survive.

People of all ages and backgrounds can participate, independently or with the many local organizations planting sunflowers in their gardens, including schools, public gardens, nature centers, museums, and parks. Participants watch sunflowers until five bees have visited and never longer than 30 minutes. The information is then sent to scientists at San Francisco State University by mail or online.

Everyone who signs up for this free project at www.greatsunflower.org can download the Sunflower Kit in English or soon in Spanish or Chinese, or ask to receive one by mail. The kit includes data forms for reporting the bees seen, a colorful guide to gardening for pollinators, educational materials about bees , and a packet of sunflower seeds to plant in pots and gardens.

“It is vital that we understand how bees where bees are declining in order to start to help them,” says project leader Dr. Gretchen LeBuhn. “Having healthy pollinators is important for both natural systems and our food supply.”

Learn more and sign up at www.greatsunflower.org. Despite the dramatic die-off of honey bees, we can still help the bees and connect with nature.