![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Plants/MyGarden.jpg)
Of course in my garden it didn't take very long. Almost everything has a constant flow of assorted bees working it. What should have been a 30 minute survey ended after 10 minutes, as that's how long it took for 5 different bees to visit one flower.
You should note that Lemon Queen Sunflowers are NOT photographed here in this post. That variety of sunflower has pale yellow flower petals with a very dark brown almost black center. They're not as colorful as the Great American Hybrid and Mammoth Sunflowers that I have planted. Skyscraper is another good one.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202009/NativeBeeSunflower.jpg)
A native digger bee collecting pollen.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202009/HoneyBeeSunflowerPollen.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202009/HoneyBeeWorkingHardfortheHoney.jpg)
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Bees%202009/HoneyBeeWorkingHardfortheHoney2.jpg)
It didn't take long for this bee to become covered in pollen. In an attempt to get clean she took off and started hovering infront of the flower.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Plants/SunflowerInside.jpg)
I was toying with the idea of planting all along our patio or deck. They are ideal for creating a screen between you and the bird feeder.
![](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v735/mrilovetheants/Plants/FurryCaterpillarSunflower2.jpg)
They're not only good at producing seeds. A number of Lepidoptera also use them as a host plant.
Regardless of why you plant them though Sunflowers are easily the most inexpensive garden plant. For $1 you'll get 10 to 50 seeds depending on what variety. And in only a year those tiny seeds turn into some of the most spectacular plants. Seeds can be saved after they flower for the following year, it's a natural bird food, some varieties can even be eaten. They're also being considered for use in biofuel. It is a mystery why more people don't plant them.