Thursday, September 24, 2015

Self Seeding Sunflowers

This boulevard was planted in 2010 as part of a living birthday cake when Wolfe turned 100 years old

Did you know?
Sunflowers are actually dozens of actual flowers, all gathered together in a group.  The outside petals are striped as they are made from several flowers 'joining hands' to create a petal around the other flowers.

Every fall, they drop seeds.  Birds and squirrels eat them and drop a few seeds as well.  We have only planted this particular Green Street garden once, but every year, new plants grow.  Even in our dry summer, they were able to survive.  Perhaps we have a mystery watering elf?

They originally were planted from West Coast Seeds Music Box variety, 
a short, multicoloured sunflower with many branches per plant.

Friday, September 11, 2015

See the Bee

We have many plants near Ontario and 26th that are popular with bees and butterflies.  We have catmint, russian sage ("magnificent plant") and bulbs from VanDusen.  Up to 200 bees have been seen and heard here at one time.  Ask gently, and they will let you pass as they are quite focused on gathering nectar - their sugar water that gives them energy to fly and collect nectar to make honey.
Can you see the bee?

37th Avenue is the Pollinator Corridor, complete with an Insect Hotel near Hamber Secondary!