For the past few years, I have planted rows of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) in the front yard near the fence. Sitting in the far north portion of my property, they don’t shade the vegetables that sit below them. Starting from seed, they pop from the soil in an unassuming fashion before becoming solar sentinels with slow and watchful turns toward the light. Like all armies, they vary in description: tall, short, big/small flowers, red, yellow. And like all armies, they have a common enemy: Squirrels.
Over the past few weeks my sunflowers have been attacked with vigor by squadrons of these rodents. I have been able to thwart some of their dawn attacks going out to water or collecting the morning newspaper. The squirrels seem surprised that I want to chase them off as they dangle from the tops of the disc-shaped, plate-sized flowers as some large, misplaced, furry ornament. Upon departure, they leave half-eaten sunflower tops and a mat of shell casings below. Recently they have started to use arborist’s techniques to collect their fat-laden seed treats by toppling the stems at their bases. Their sharp little teeth are used as nature’s chain saws.
But unlike clear-cutting humans, these lumber (or flower) jacks are much more discriminating in their harvests. They prey only on sunflowers that have been pollinated and formed seeds. Looking upward at their tops, about half of the sunflowers in the garden are still being pollinated by bees and other insects. The bees have been particularly active, landing on the disc florets gathering pollen in large groups. None of these plants have been touched. Once the florets have dried and start to fall off, however, harvesting commences.
While it would be foolish at this point to try to stop the squirrels based on past experiences, perhaps it is time to save a few flower heads (with their seeds) for next year’s crop. Keeping watch on the plants, I spot one that the bees are no longer visiting and the squirrels have yet to attack. It sits high in the garden, at least 8 feet up.
I cut it yesterday.
I got it at just the right time as all the disc florets are withered, meaning that they have been pollinated. The outer portion of the flower is now ringed with large striped seeds wedged next to each other. The withered disc florets look like tiny yellow vases crammed together. Brushing my hand over them reminds me of a 4-day’s growth of beard stubble in texture though unlike my beard they fall off with repetitive rubbings. For now, victory.
