Sunflower Season

Sunflower plants are a picturesque option when you take down your bird feeder. (Courtesy bluedoglimited.com)

Now that winter is waning, it’s time to take down those tube feeders and put away the sunflower seeds someplace secure. Black bears will be emerging from hibernation soon and it’s up to us to keep them from getting into trouble.

Yet many folks resist this idea because they love having chickadees, goldfinches, and cardinals flock to their yards year-round. One solution, of course, is to plant shrubs and flowers that can fill in for your feeders without bringing our local bruins to untimely ruin.

The great thing about perennials and shrubs, of course, is that you only plant them once — and then they bear fruit, seeds and nuts for the birds year after year. But don’t forget annual flowers either. And since we know our resident songbirds love sunflower seeds, doesn’t it make sense to grow sunflower plants? Not only do you cut out the middleman, but you get beautiful, cheerful flowers that are guaranteed to attract birds when their seeds ripen.

Sunflowers are easy to grow in any sunny, well-drained spot in your garden. There are tons of varieties from mammoth to miniature. And while they have been drastically changed over the centuries, modern sunflowers come from native species. Some archeologists believe that Native Americans cultivated the bright blossoms as early as 3000 years ago. And why not? Their seeds are useful as food, cooking oil, and for feeding livestock.

And, by the time your flowers bloom and set seed, the black bears will have plenty of other wild foods at their disposal and will likely leave them alone. But the birds will find them — so plant a few sunflowers near a window and then you can enjoy the view.