The Great Sunflower Project

This Spring, in southern California, graduate students will comb the desert looking for the first emergence of adult Xylocopa orpifex or Mountain Carpenter Bees. Scientists in the Midwest will have note books in hand recording the first time they see orchard bees (Osmia sp.) foraging at the edge of corn fields in the spring.

We are excited to begin a new year. We look forward to new seeds to plant, new gardens in the works, new observations and new insights. 2012 marks the fourth year for the Great Sunflower Project, and we are looking forward to having YOU be a part of it.

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to those of you who observed last year and sent in your data – you continue to make our project a success. And those who haven’t sent in your data or just joined up are encouraged to start planning now for a new year.