Guerrilla Gardening Sunflowers Rise Up

On May 1, International Sunflower Guerrilla Day, eco-warriors around Europe planted sunflowers in celebration of the first day of summer and nature's fertility. Guerrilla gardening is a slightly subversive way of making ugly, neglected bits of public space beautiful by planting seeds and plants in the dark of night and waiting for them to grow. Here is the result of the midnight efforts of one brave group of gardeners.

London's guerrilla gardeners planted sunflowers across the Thames River from the Houses of Parliament. They found an abandoned rose garden, cleared away the weeds and rubble and threw hundreds of sunflower seeds there. Four months later, despite the gloomiest August in the UK since records began--105.5 hours of sunshine, against an average for the month of 165 hours--a field of splendid tall sunflowers have appeared. They bloom in defiant optimism, thanks to the tolerance or neglect of the municipal garden keepers. A great reason to participate in your neighbourhood; or start a group yourself. :: Guerrilla Gardening

More on Guerrilla Gardening
:: International sunflower Guerrilla Day
:: A Handbook for Guerrilla Gardening

Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:

• Meet Ann Snook, The Nature Conservancy's Maya Forest Program Manager
• 2 Wheels, Not 4: Pedal Towards Bicycle Activism in 10 Revolutions Per Minute
• Easy and Frugal for Thanksgiving: Garlic Sauteed Kale with Capers, Dried Cranberries and Sunflower Seeds
• Organic Gardening 101: 5 Tips for Avoiding Seed Catalog Overspend
• 5 Must-Have Books for Urban Gardeners
• A Roadmap for Coast-to-Coast Activism: 50 States, 50 Eco-Groups

Grass

Barbeque

Congress

Lifestyle