Nature field note
Sunny spinner
Busy Sunflowers
Young sunflowers slowly turn during the day to follow the sun.
Let's look closer
How does a flower follow the sun?
oung sunflower stems grow a little faster on the shaded side. That uneven growth gently bends the flower toward the moving sun. At night, it turns back east, ready for sunrise.
Look for this
Explorer clue
Watch young sunflowers at different times of day. Older blooms usually stop turning and settle facing east, where morning sunshine warms them.
Your turn to wonder
Curiosity question
What other living things change their direction to find light?