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Girasol (829), a guerrilla gardener in Brussels, has declared Tuesday
May 1 as International Sunflower Guerrilla Day (La Journée
Internationale de la Guérilla Tournesol). It is a day for all of us,
wherever we are in the Northern Hemisphere, to plant sunflower seeds
in public space.
Why?
- It makes public space attractive
- Birds and bees love sunflowers too.
- Celebrate nature's fertility.
How?
- You will need a packet of sunflower seeds. They are widely
available, not just from garden stores, but pet and health food
stores. Fill a bottle of water, pick up a little spade (or spoon will
do!) and set out into the city.
- Find a neglected or tedious patch of land and dig a little hole
about an inch (2.5cm) deep and drop one seed into it. If you're going
for giant sunflowers space them about a foot (30cm) apart.
- Fill the hole and pour some water on it.
- Return occasionally, especially if the weather is dry, to water
your sunflower.
- Post a photo of your sunflower on the www.guerrillagardening.org
Community forum.
Also check www.spacehjackers.org for a party in the city afterwards (dress as a city worker).
More about sunflowers: Sunflowers (Helianthus Annus) have been grown
by Native Americans for thousands of years. They were not just
harvested as food but used in ceremonial dances as symbols of
endurance and strength. Sunflowers were brought to Europe by the
returning Spanish conquistadors. Russia is now
the world's largest producer of sunflowers. The tallest sunflower in
the world grew to 25 feet, 5.4 inches in the Netherlands.
