I'm still enjoying the sunflowers that I planted this summer. No, unfortunately they don't look like this anymore.
Instead, they look like this. I attached several dried sunflower seed heads to a tree with a bungee cord. It's been fun watching the birds land on the seed heads and eat the seeds. This picture was taken very quickly several days ago through the kitchen window.
This picture was taken shortly after I had attached them to the tree. It was a thrill to see the bluebird sitting on it.
Next summer I will definitely be planting more sunflowers for the birds to enjoy. I'll have to plant a lot more than I did this year especially since the goldfinches ate the seeds as soon as they were developed, so there weren't many sunflower heads left for the winter birds.
On this icy, wintry day the picture of the sunflower sure brightens my day. I hope it brightens yours too!
16 comments:
You final picture with the yellow bird on the yellow flower is a masterpiece. You should consider using it as your blog header.
I too love sunflowers and miss their faithful sun-worship. I always try to save some seeds from the ones that do the best.
A wonderful, natural way to feed the birds and enjoy gorgeous flowers. I've not planted sunflowers, but I have them sprout from below the feeders!
The goldfinch eat my rudbeckia (what the rabbits don't eat first). I planted those en masse in the butterfly garden (aka "Chaos") where there is no design, only lots of flowers for birds, bees and butterflies.
If I were a honeybee, I would be in the middle of that first sunflower!
Cameron
I totally agree, planting sunflowers for feeding the birds and just to enjoy their beauty is wonderful. I always had fun watching the goldfinches and chipmunks harvesting the seeds throughout the autumn months.
Robin the sunflower spell ~Happy~ anytime of the year! Love the images of the birds enjoying the seeds!
The one with the yellow finch is awesome!
Your Cooper photos are wonderful too in the last post! Your NEW camera is doing a great job!You too for having ~~the eye!~~ -^.^- NG
Weeping Sore, thank you! You know, since I have the Blogger "denim stretch" blog design, I've never figured out how to do a header. One of these days I'm going to have to experiment with that again.
Cameron, they ate the blossoms off of my Bradford pear this past spring. Funny birds! The bees do love the sunflowers and I have many pictures of that too!
Natural Moments, I had a lot of chipmunks at my home in Alabama. I think they're so cute, but I'm kind of glad I don't have to share my sunflowers with them here.
Naturegirl, thank you. The sunflower makes me very happy too! They look look sunshine!
Robin .. those are great pictures of the birds .. the Goldfinch is fantastic ! .. I wish I could see a Bluebird in real life .. but I don't think they come this far north ? I can always hope ? LOL
Robin,
Love your sunflower photo! fantastic shot...and the bluebird and finch are welcome sights on this gray Nashville day! gail
That little bluebird was probably wondering where the sunshine was that goes along with the sunflowers.
I loved seeing your Coopers hawk too. Great photos. How are you liking that new camera?
I always grow sunflowers but the squirrels gnaw at the stems to bring down the flowers just as seedheads start forming. Timber!
Your flowers and your birds are beautiful! Great shots.
Hi Robin, what a thrill to see those birds on your harvest and good idea to remind us to plant more of these. I don't think I planted any this year, or they didn't come up. What a beautiful photo of the flower too. I am enjoying looking at pictures from warmer times in my garden too, it plants the seed for next year's plans!
Frances
Robin, I think the last picture with the Goldfinch on top of the Sunflower is totally AWESOME.
Thanks,
Betsy
Robin,
Your photos are stunning- I would love to know your secrets! The beautiful yellow finches loved my sunflowers that I planted this year too- nice because it was my first year growing them. They are a delight! You dog reminds me of my Blake too.
Happy gardening
Your Sunflower Head photo is stunning, Robin, and love the fellow birds, especially your handsome goldfinch. Happy Holidays!
It always warms the soul to look at summer garden photos in the middle of winter, doesn't it? That first sunflower photo is fantastic. I planted some burgundy sunflowers this summer but like with yours, the seeds were devoured immediately. I am going to try and plant more next season too. You can't beat a sunflower for being so multi-purpose (beautiful, beneficial, pest free, etc.) What a great idea to bungee them to the tree. I might have to try that sometime. :-)
I am glad you posted this, because I was trying to decide whether I want to grow sunflowers again next year. The squirrels knocked down 2 of my sunflower plants when I didn't think the seeds were fully developed yet. I went around cutting spent flowers off and put them on a bench for the birds or squirrels. In a few days, they were all gone. I know at least one ended up in my next door neighbor's yard.
After that, the squirrels were somehow able to take whole heads off of the rest of the plants without knocking down the whole plants like they had before. I don't know if birds got any of the seeds or not.
At what point in ripeness did you cut off your seed heads, and where do you store them?
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