The past few years we've been trying to encourage the volunteers and wild plants that sprout in our garden and pots. (Well, as much as seems like a good idea. . . .)

We've fed sunflowers to birds for many more years than that. This year is the first time any of the sunflower seeds have sprouted. Three or four have been coming up.

This one is the first to open. It sprang from a hole in the side of one of the pots, a hole that was given lots of attention through the winter by the chickadees. I suspect the seed was planted by one of them.