Bee-ware!!!

As you can see, I've got this mammoth sunflower right by my front door. I was so pleased with it's growth, considering that it came up from a fallen seed from last years mammoth sunflower. Last year I had to stake the sunflower to keep it from falling over. This year I was delighted that it needed no staking to keep growing straight and tall. However, about three weeks ago we had a huge wind/rain storm and when we put the dog out at night we discovered that the sunflower had somewhat tipped over. It could be saved, and is now strangely rigged up using an extention cord because we couldn't find anything else at the time. So, that's why it's kind of tipsy looking and about half attacks you when you come to my front door.

Now, if you somehow survive the sunflower attacking you, I do hope that you'll also avoid the other danger lurking in the sunflower. BEES! Mammoth Sunflower currently has 6 blooms and all day long there are a multitude of bees and wasps swarming it. The other day in the centers alone I counted 32 of them and counted 15 flying around the plant. That's 47 flying, stinging, potentially dangerous insects! Now, I can admit some of the fliers may have gotten counted twice as they all look pretty much the same, but lets be real, that's A LOT of bees!
My child doens't like to go out the front door and I'm sure we'd face a lawsuit if an allergic person came to our door and was stung. (Jon, you've officially been warned.) Just so you know, a huge bee attracting plant and a "No Soliciting" sign STILL don't keep the door to door people away, but anyone else is welcome to come over....just watch your head.