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Get your gardening gloves ready because May 1 marks International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day! This unique holiday celebrates the beauty and resilience of sunflowers, as well as the power of guerrilla gardening – a movement that encourages people to transform neglected or abandoned spaces into beautiful gardens. Started in 2007 by guerrilla gardener Richard Reynolds, this day has grown into a worldwide event where individuals come together to beautify their communities with sunflowers. So grab some seeds and get ready to spread some joy and sunshine on this special day!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Sunflower Cultivation Begins</div><div class='timeline-text'>The sunflower, a native to North America, was brought to Europe in the 16th century and began being cultivated on a large scale in Russia in the 19th century.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1973</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Birth of Guerrilla Gardening</div><div class='timeline-text'>Liz Christy and her Green Guerrilla group started guerrilla gardening in New York City's Bowery Houston area, transforming a derelict private lot into a garden.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2004</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Richard Reynolds Starts Gardening</div><div class='timeline-text'>Richard Reynolds began guerrilla gardening outside of Perronet House, Elephant & Castle, London as a protest against the poor maintenance of public space.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2007</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first annual International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day was established by Reynolds and other guerrilla gardeners as a coordinated worldwide event.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2018</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Global Participation</div><div class='timeline-text'>By 2018, the event is participated in by guerrilla gardeners in countries around the world, showcasing the global community’s commitment to environmental activism.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2021</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Pandemic-Driven Gardening Surge</div><div class='timeline-text'>With the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a noticeable increase in interest for guerrilla gardening and more participation in the International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Start a sunflower garden in a public space</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get together with friends and plant sunflower seeds in a neglected area in your community, like a vacant lot or roadside. Spread some beauty and joy on International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a sunflower seed planting party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite friends and family over for a sunflower seed planting party! Have everyone bring their own pot or container and some sunflower seeds, and spend the day planting and decorating the pots to take home.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create sunflower seed bombs</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Mix together clay, compost, and sunflower seeds to create seed bombs that can be thrown into neglected areas to spread some beauty and cheer on International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go on a sunflower scavenger hunt</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Create a list of different types of sunflowers and go on a scavenger hunt to find them all! This is a fun and interactive way to celebrate the day and learn more about different types of sunflowers.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a sunflower-themed art exhibit</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite local artists to submit sunflower-themed artwork for an exhibit on International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day. This is a great way to showcase the beauty and importance of sunflowers while supporting local artists.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes community involvement</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Guerilla gardening encourages people to come together and spruce up their neighborhoods without needing permission from authorities. This creates a sense of community and camaraderie as everyone works towards a common goal - making the world a more beautiful place!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a fun and creative activity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Planting sunflowers in unexpected places is not only a way to bring beauty to your surroundings, but it's also a fun and creative activity. It allows people to think outside the box and create something unique that can surprise and delight others.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It benefits the environment</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Sunflowers are not only visually appealing, but they also have numerous environmental benefits. They help purify the air, attract pollinators, and even provide food for birds and other wildlife. By participating in International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day, you're not only making your community more beautiful, but you're also helping the environment.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Sunflowers Can Clean Contaminated Soil</h3><p class='facts-content'>Sunflowers are known for their phytoremediation abilities, which means they can extract toxic ingredients from the soil– making them an eco-friendly choice for guerilla gardening in urban environments.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Sunflowers Move with the Sun</h3><p class='facts-content'>Young sunflowers demonstrate a behavior called heliotropism, where they tilt their heads towards the sun and follow it as it moves across the sky– a perfect symbol for hope and positivity on International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>One Sunflower Can House Hundreds of Seeds</h3><p class='facts-content'>Every mature sunflower head can contain hundreds of seeds that can be used for regrowth, perpetuating the cycle of guerilla gardening and benefiting local wildlife.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Guerilla Gardening Acts as a Tool of Protest</h3><p class='facts-content'>Guerilla gardening is not only an aesthetic act but also a political one. By reclaiming neglected public spaces, gardeners can demonstrate community spirit and the importance of greener urban spaces.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Sunflowers are Fast Growers</h3><p class='facts-content'>Sunflowers can grow 8 to 12 feet (2.4 to 3.7 m) tall in just six months, making them a quick and satisfying project for guerilla gardeners who want to see impact fast.</p></div></div>
International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day is celebrated on May 1 every year. In 2024, it falls on a Wednesday.
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