May 1st, International Sunflower Guerrilla Day

[Richard _001]

Here's an announcement from Girasol (829), the Brussel's Farmer.


This May 1st will be the international sunflower guerrilla day.

So we are setting the meeting in Brussels this May 1st, at 1 pm, place Poelaert, Brussels (near the elevator) and will be spreading from there. Everyone is welcome with their friends and families. Just bring a little tool with you (like a pen, a stick,... ) to make little holes in the ground. We provide the seeds. We'll be gathering at the end of the afternoon for the usual drink.

If Brussels is too far for you, other cities will be visited by sunflower planters this may 1st:

For Meer, Namur and Liège (Belgium), no meeting place is set but write us and we will put you in touch with them.

In Bordeaux (France), the meeting is set at 7 pm, bar « le passage », place Saint-Michel.

Eindhoven (Netherlands) has already seen some seeds and should get some more. Same for London and Berlin. And yes, Mexco city will get some too.

(if your city isn't listed here, you are cordialy invited to add it to the list ;-) )

Visit here for more info and inspiration of previous sunflower planting:

http://brussels-farmer.blogspot.com/

[Brussels-farmer]

Just a little update.

In Bordeaux (France), the meeting was not set for May 1st, but for yesterday evening.
They was a slight communication problem. Sorry.

They are also preparing their own blog to talk about it and will be setting a big planting day on May 8th. 15 highly motivated people will be there. You're welcome to join. (more info will come soon)

In Istanbul, someone is looking for volunteers to go plant with him. (He won't do it alone) So if you'd like to help him, contact me and I'll put you in touch.

[thistlechick]

Yay! You can count on support in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!

EDIT added April 30th: I planted some sunflower seeds today across the street from my home on the edge of a vacant city lot. I'll post some photos in a few months when they have grown a bit =)

[Lyla Patel]

me too!

It was a fantastic idea.

I work in the middle of an industrial estate and it is a long boring walk, often hindered by rubble, trucks and unpleasant smells. 

last tuesday |I planted sunflower seeds on the few available patches of soil. 

my work mates are very generously donating their used plastic bottles for me to fill and I'm now entertaining my journey with watering.

can't wait to see the sunflowers growing!

[tampopo]

Ah go on,....

spurred on by this thread, I went out today with a big screwdriver to break up the soil, and about 50 seeds. Planted every last one of them and sorry I didn't bring more. So there.

This is a good site...

[tampopo]

I sowed another 40-50 yesterday, and this morning planted a rose that a friend's mother had given me. So, fingers crossed.

It's due to rain heavily over the today and over the weekend so it'll help. There's no way I can water them all or feed them all or stake them all!!!!

[Richard _001]

Great, you'll find they don't need too much watering anyway, Girasol who has been planting sunflowers outdoors in Brussels has a plant and wait and see approach rather than lots of maintenance. 

[tampopo]

Richard,

ah, good. That's good to hear. Though i did grow 14 a couple of years ago. that's where I'm getting the seeds from. I looked after them intensively....

If I get a 5% success rate I'll be happy. They are in an area that has regular hmmm, antisocial behaviour, all night drinking et al. Added to that, it's not overlooked by houses at all. It's an area between two roads, behind both sets of houses.

btw.I tried entering the longitude and latitude the other day and it got bounced back. The email, that is. I'll try again next week.

T.

[Chappers]

I planted sunflower seeds in Falmouth on 1st May and they all sprouted, but now they seem to have been eaten!  I assume either by slugs or birds - just a tiny stalk left.  I don't know whether there is enough left for them to resprout but I will sow some more seeds in pots and transplant them when they are bigger to see if I can beat the wildlife!

Chappers

[tampopo]

Hello Chappers,

unfortunately those sunflowers won't resprout. They are not designed that way, like a hedge or rose etc. It's crucial to get them to the month old stage or so. They are susceptible to slug and snail damage to their fresh new growth.

Pity.

tampopo

[juju]

here s some pictures of sprouting sunflowers in Berlin-Mitte. These are only some places and you cant really tell what it looks like around there. if any berliner or person visiting berlin is interested in seeing more of the surroundings or knowing of other places that i have planted let me know...

[Lyla Patel]

A very sad sight on my walk to work this morning.

my baby sunflowers (about 15, 5inches high) had all been cut down!!

they were on a patch of land that had grown some extremely leafy weeds. I had removed those closest to the sunflowers, to allow them light but left a lot there for protection of the patch.

so very sad.

this morning I discovered everything had been cut. not weeded, but snipped, leaving nothing but stubs.

it was my main patch. I only have a few others. I feel they need some protection... thinking I should either tag them or erect a small fence round each.

[Richard _001]

This attack by a faceless enemy is heart breaking news.  The small consolation I can provide is the encouragement that comes from all those other sunflowers planted elsewhere as a communal effort both in London and around the world.  I sense a modern day urban parable coming on...

[Mike LONG]

Man.... I LOVE this idea!!!
*wondering if it's too late to plant some sunflower seeds in eastern Canada*

I planted a few sunnies in my garden last year and only one survived the dreaded slug onslaught (GRRR!)... BUT that one was a beauty ... one stem but about 20 blossoms.  I'll have to see if I still have any seeds kicking around in the garage.

Great Idea!!  Cheers!!

[Brussels-farmer]

Hello Mike

Normally, sunflower seeds need to be planted between april and may. So the end of july is a bit too late to start. But try it anyway. It might work. The only thing is they won't grow as high as they could and the flowers will be smaller than normal. (I think, not an expert on this).

But anyway, learning by experience is fun. So tell us if it worked out or not :-)

c u

[xtaros]

BeDazzling Yet Captivating - Roadside SunFlowers

Westminster Bridge Road - London SE1

See at:  http://www.xtaros.smugmug.com/gallery/3105207

I'll be posting more from various London locations soon.

Regards,


Glen

http://www.xtaros.com/

======

[Brussels-farmer]

Hello Caitlin

Those sunflowers are beautifull... and the pictures too. :-)
I'm glad also you could report about those conversation you heard through the fence. It cheers me up :-).

I'm posting a note about it on the Brussels-farmer blog.
Thanks again for sharing.

 
 

[tampopo]

Lovely flowers, looked at the flickr site, nice.

My GG sunflowers are not flowering yet. I have some photos taken bit by bit, 3', 4', 5' tall and now the tallest is about 7' tall.

About 12 -15 of the hundred or sow I sowed came up, about 10 have survived till today...fingers crossed I get some flower heads.

Well done Caitlin

[Brussels-farmer]

Hello Caitlin

Great story. I can see that sunflowers seem to have a magic power on people. Maybe because they are big, maybe because they look like the sun, maybe because we can eat them... maybe... I don't knwo but I'm glad it works on your side too.

I hope your neighbors will plant some next year with your seeds... That would be great :-)

Can't wait to see the new pictures...

c u

[Richard _001]

It's time to start planning your sunflower seed planting as the 2nd International Sunflower Guerrilla Day is on May 1. I've just created a new page on the website with details and links to lots of inspiration from last year's sunflower guerrilla gardening.

http://www.guerrillagardening.org/ggsunflower.html

[Richard _001]

I've got packets of free sunflower seeds (of the "Russian Giant" variety which grow up to 3m tall) that have been made to be given away with my forthcoming book "On Guerrilla Gardening" (http://www.onguerrillagardening.com). If you're passing near SE1 let me know or on if you're coming along to a dig in London I'll keep some in my pocket to hand out ready for use on May 1.

[miss41]

I've got a question about sunflower seeds.
I've got some seeds at home, but very old ones, maybe more than 10 years old ( my granmother kept them to feed the birds) .
 Do you think I can plant them? ?

[Richard _001]

My hunch would be no they probably are not in great condition... but if they've been dry, cool, dark some might do OK. I'd say experiment with a few and top them up with some newer ones. They only take a moment to plant.

[miss41]

Ok, i'll look for new ones to be sure it'll  work ..
Thanks for your quick reply !

[mewsicmama]

I will be participating in the South Los Angeles/North Orange county area.  I will be a one person guerilla and have a blast while doing it!

[docsuzy]

I  have been  trying to do up the entrance of the hospital children's department here, quietly. This weekend for anyone in Shetland who is interested will be our day .
Sunflowers will not grow well outside in Shetland , but he has a bit of a glass shelter. Sunflowers it will be.If anyone is passing and wants to comes along, it will be next saturday morning at Gilbertson road!

[Matt Thomas]

I love this!  I will be planting while out on my route (i'm a UPS driver), so it will be easy for me to keep an eye on things while they grow.

[TuesdayTrilby]

As there is still a light skiff of snow on the ground here, while I will be planting a few sunflowers on may 1st, I also plan on planting more later in the month, when their chances will be better!

[Richard _001]

Eleven of us walked the New Kent Road with the aim of turning it into The Golden Avenue. With an old shopping trolley as our tank we lugged tools, seeds and litter bags planting sunflowers where ever there looked like fertile ground. A full report will be on the home page soon. We also were honoured to be joined by Girasol 829, one of the Brussels Farmers and originator of International Sunflower Guerrilla Day!

[Sandy Westermann]

Hello from NJ!  We (that is me and my 4 daughters 9, 6 4, and 2) had a GREAT Interntional Sunflower Guerrilla Day.  See my blog for pics and more on our groundbreaking!

http://www.thedancingbutterfly.blogspot.com/

[TuesdayTrilby]

As there is still a light skiff of snow on the ground here, while I will be planting a few sunflowers on may 1st, I also plan on planting more later in the month, when their chances will be better!

Since there have been no signs of life from my may day sunflowers, this morning I replanted two sunflower patches - one is in heavy clay, so I doubt it'll have much success - but the location is terrific if it does work out. The other sunflowers were (re)planted in a small public park

[Richard _001]

Here's a short report I made of the successful sunflower guerrilla garden opposite the Houses of Parliament in London!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihUh5FNg1h4

[tampopo]

Well,

I went for it!!! Do you think it was busy enough!!



It was hard to plant out and water at night as it's in front of a pub. I had to get up early a few Saturday and Sunday mornings! I put out 6, but only 2 have survived.

A little closer....



I'll post more up to date pix when I can.25452

[tampopo]

First photo. I planted two sets of three.



Looking good...




halfway there, two survivors of the six originals.



Up and running....at last







that is about it on the Sunflower front. The hedging was host to hundreds of snails that I hadn't realised.

[Nisaba]

Another good thing about planting sunflowers is that, once they're finished, top'n'tail them - and you have instant, ready-made tomato stakes for your veggie patch next year! I really do like a plant that supplies you with gardening equipment.

[Richard _001]

It's nearly that time of the year again to be filling your pockets with sunflower seeds and taking to the streets to plant. The third International Sunflower Guerrilla Day will hopefully be bigger than ever, with groups and solo guerrillas all over the place sowing sunshine around their neighbourhoods.

I've created a Facebook Event so you can easily invite people to take part.
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1063223574658#/event.php?eid=60175258519&ref=mf

And if May 1 was too far off, then get busy on April 4... because the Glasgow Guerrilla Gardeners have declared that International Nasturtium Guerrilla Gardening Day! Brilliant.

[Nisaba]

Talking about sunflowers, which I love and have scattered everywhere, Jerusalem Artichokes are a kind of sunflower, and nowdays I can neither buy the tubers nor the seed. I don't suppose anyone can help me?

[rasputin]

I recently attempted to create seed bombs with sunflower seeds with unexpected results - they sprouted! 2-3 days after making the bombs, while some were still drying, i noticed white little sprouts pushing out of the balls. i was hoping to wait until the end of the month to disperse them but they're not going to wait!

anyone have experience with this? i'm curious where i went wrong.

[Xanthoria]

Anyone up for joining us in planting sunflowers in San Francisco? 

http://pennsylvaniagarden.blogspot.com/

[bulbil321]

I recently attempted to create seed bombs with sunflower seeds with unexpected results - they sprouted! 2-3 days after making the bombs, while some were still drying, i noticed white little sprouts pushing out of the balls. i was hoping to wait until the end of the month to disperse them but they're not going to wait!

anyone have experience with this? i'm curious where i went wrong.

Some seeds sprout in just a few days so be careful that you know the shelf live of the bombs i.e. germination times of the seeds you used. If the seeds used in your bombs sprout quickly the moist material (clay and compost) can start the sprouting process and if you wait to long the sprouted seedlings will dry out. You might not even notice the seeds sprouting if the seeds don't fully open. But I think if the seed starts to open, whether you see it or not, and the bomb dries out the partly opened seeds are through. Some seed bombs need to be used right away. Hope this helps.
bulbil321
http://socalguerrillagardening.org/

[Sunflowers and Blue Roses]

Hey i can plant sunflowers, i have lemon sunflowes and mammoth sunflowers already growing in small containers. I planted the seeds three weeks ago. The lemon sunflowers can grow to eight feet tall the mammoth can grow to twelve feet tall, any good ideas about where they would grow well.

[tampopo]

to sunflowers and blue roses...

maybe if you could get them near a wall, it would help them remain upright. Otherwise they might need to be staked individually. Try the leeward side of a wall or somewhere like that. Have you a hedge that could shelter them while they still got sun?

[Sunflowers and Blue Roses]

Do you think it would be ok if i stared with my neighborhood before really reaching out? I think some of the sunflowers would look  good along my school bus route, there are plenty of fences. Any tips on avoiding weed whackers? Thanks for your time.       

[tampopo]

yeah, weed whackers are what did for mine last year or the year before.  Could you make up some labels, cut up a milk carton into strips and use heavy black marker to write SUNFLOWER on it? Otherwise, keep the area immediately around the flowers clear of weeds in advance of the weedwhackers and hope for the best.

I do that still for the plants I have at the base of trees, see my Troop Digs photo, and it seems to work. The folks responsible don't cut closer than I have already done. That's probably not feasible if you have lots though...

[garden posse]

The Garden Posse is planning a big event in Austin, Texas!

Check it out here:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=88774766088&ref=ts

[Egregius]

Talking about sunflowers, which I love and have scattered everywhere, Jerusalem Artichokes are a kind of sunflower, and nowdays I can neither buy the tubers nor the seed. I don't suppose anyone can help me?

Well I have planted two tubers myself, after they were available in the supermarket in januari (they don't store well). If you're in the area of Rotterdam I can provide you with a shoot or two

[mark144]

hey guys would it be a good idea to buy 1 off them huge bags off sunflowers seeds out off a pet shop like jollys or somthing??

[cannonsblazing]

hey guys would it be a good idea to buy 1 off them huge bags off sunflowers seeds out off a pet shop like jollys or somthing??

Yes!  Much cheaper, but you might want to spread more of them in the same place since not all of them will grow.

[mark144]

aw ok i think i might do that or take half a bag and feed the rest to the bird LOL