Simona Falasca This May 1st, you too can become Guerrilla Sunflower and plant a sunflower. May 1st is not only Labor Day, but it is also one of the most special occasions of the year, the International Sunflower Day of Assault Gardeners, in which people try to bring greenery and color to their neighborhood by planting a seed of sunflowers in public places and common flowerbeds, especially those left in decay.
Leopictures from Pixabay
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The International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day was established in 2007 by the Brussels Farmer in Belgium. They initiated the planting of sunflowers in the most rundown and neglected neighborhoods, bringing color to the city.
Over the years, guerrilla gardeners from other countries have embraced the spirit of this day of action, which has gained international popularity as various guerrilla gardening movements have spread across different countries.
In 2020, the lockdown and the pandemic caused many to forget about this wonderful initiative, but now we can all celebrate again by planting our own seeds during a walk in our city.
Why the sunflower?
The sunflower symbolizes cheerfulness, joy, and brightness. It is the quintessential heliotropic flower that has always fascinated and amazed people.
Not everyone knows that the real flowers are those contained within the corolla, arranged in a precise spiral pattern (Fibonacci) of 34 in one direction and 55 in the other.
How to participate in the International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day
On the International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day, the key action is to plant sunflowers!
Participation is very simple; just arm yourself with sunflower seeds and plan your “attack,” which can even be done with children:
- Get some sunflower seeds, tap water, and something to dig with (a trowel, a fork, a hoe).
- Find a flower bed in a dim and neglected public garden (preferably at least 20 sq meters).
- Make a hole in the soil at least 2 cm deep, insert a seed, cover it with soil, and water it.
- You can take a photo and share it on social media with the hashtag #internationalsunflowerguerrillagardeningday.
- Return periodically to weed and water your sunflower.
- By August, you can see your plant coloring and cheering up the most degraded and forgotten spaces of your city.
If bad weather prevents you from going out, you can always honor the day by planting sunflower seeds in a pot or garden.
So what are you waiting for? Grab a handful of sunflower seeds and plant them everywhere!
