Whiptips craft advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving comments. Whiptips archive here. Questions to whiptips@gmail.com.
Amy from Graceful studio wrote in with this question.
I planted sunflowers in my garden this year, and they look great. Now, when the flowers are done, and I’ve harvested the seeds, what can I do with the rest of the plant? I’d like to maybe make something out of the stems and/or leaves. Any ideas?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
we just leave them standing until the next summer – birds in our yard love to use them as perches.
Why not use them to make a wonderful paper? The stems can be chopped up for fiber and bulk, while the leaves and petals(after soaking) can be “artfully” place in the paper.
We use ours as bird perches too! If you have the heavy duty, huge sunflowers, use the stalks the following summer as bean tepees or plant climbers (morning glorys, etc) on them. Good Idea about the paper, I’ll try that with my smaller plants.
I love to use the stocks for three things. I once made an arbor with stocks and then grew a jasmine vine on it. It worked great. I also like to use string and tie them in a criss/cross pattern for a great trellis. I also use single stocks to support plants the next season including other sunflowers. If you love sunflowers check out http://www.sunflowerOcity.com The Ultimate Sunflower Site.
I have some really tall ones left over from last year. I used them to create the framework for a tipi that will eventually be covered with morning glory and beans. It will also double as my four year old’s playhouse!
Here’s a photo of the framework:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smartcakes/534044017/
I cut the dried heads and hang them strategically around the yard–gold finches in particular love to go to them for the remaining seeds.
I also love the paper idea!
Thanks for the ideas! I have a range of sizes, so I’ll probably be able to make something with whole stems and make some paper.