American humorist Erma Bombeck once quipped that when she wanted her children to take their vitamins, she threw them on the floor and commanded, “Don’t touch those.” She always made me smile.
In recent years, I’ve loosely applied this approach to planting sunflowers. (This year’s “self-seeded sunflower gallery picutred below).
It’s not the seed’s fault that they are tasty morsels before they hit the ground. Over the years, I’ve planted seeds “three to a hill” as the packet recommends, only to have them dug up the following day. I’ve started seeds indoors, but end up with leggy transplants. I bought domes to cover my plantings a few years ago, and that seemed to work, but again, the plants weren’t as sturdy.
Last year, I bought a pair of tender seedlings from a local farm stand. One creased, folded, and closed up shop almost immediately. The other eventually succumbed as well.
Then a wonderful thing happened. On the other side of the planting bed, a small sunflower plant appeared. Then another one. I couldn’t believe my luck. I didn’t plant them, yet there they were, tall and proud and happy in the sun.
I checked on them every day, welcomed the bees with whispered tones in case my neighbors were within earshot, and enjoyed those golden flowers reaching toward the sun. As the flowers faded and the seeds formed, our neighborhood squirrels knew what to do.
In this scenario, the squirrels are Bombeck (dropping the seeds), and they’re also the kids on the floor (scrabbling to pick them up). Since they can’t eat all of them (did you ever hide the last cookie from a sibling?), they happily bury a few on the spot. Your’s truly becomes the “middle manager” nodding in agreement while sipping a bevy and checking social media every ten minutes while those squirrels get to work.
The “squirrel of life” is complete.
Gardening Nirvana 
Ha, so true. I find my best sunflowers are always the ones that are either dropped by birds or rodents. They have been working this system way longer than we have, so must know it backwards and forwards!
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Ha! Yes, Eliza, exactly.
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Love it!
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Thank you, Jane.
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Your squirrels must cause you hours of entertainment! They may be a pest at times (I remember you had to replace cushions!) but they can bring joy (i.e. sunflowers!) Hope those buried seeds will give you more next summer Alys!
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They are a joy to watch and though destructive at times, it helps to look at things from the squirrels perspective.
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I love it, too, especially the “squirrel of life.” Makes me giggle to think of a song that might go with this phrase.
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It’s almost impossible not to hum it, eh?
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You bet!
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Your whole garden is so inviting; it’s no wonder the squirrels, birds, bees, etc., all love it so much. You are correct, they know better than we do how to make things grow so they have food later. Great photos!
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You know, I’ve never thought of growing sunflowers, which is a massive oversight considering how much the chooks love the seeds. No squirrels here, but I suspect the possums (our version) would give them a run for their money!
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Kate, it’s worth a try.
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Yes indeed. I shall sprinkle a handful of chook food, and see what sprouts. It’s full of sunflower seeds!
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This is the first year I have grown sunflowers and most of them survived though the very dry summer means they haven’t been magnificent. On the whole self sown plants do better than those I lovingly tend so I am Encouragiung more and more things to take matters into their own hands. I can always weed out volunteers if need be
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My sentiments exactly!
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Oh the squirrels! They do love sunflowers and it is hard to keep them away. And I see they are managing your garden plantings – ha!
Speaking of squirrels, I had cut some sunflowers to have on the outside upper deck’s table to brighten the seating area AND I found a squirrel sitting on the table snacking on my bouquet! He/she probably thought the humans were very thoughtful setting up a dining area for it!
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That’s a great story! I would have had a good chuckle over that one.
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