Sunflowers have to be one of the most recognizable flowers in North America. When you were a kid and someone asked you draw a flower, I bet the result looked something like a sunflower. In addition to the iconic nature of the flowers, we like sunflower seeds so much, we’ve worked with the plant to make bigger and better seeds for us to eat (and also to share with birds).
Sarah Lueder just completed her year with us as Hubbard Fellow and has traveled to California for her next gig. As part of her independent project as a Fellow, she created an entertaining and informative video about sunflowers. It’s a celebration of a charismatic species, its evolution, and its ecological relationships. At the same time, her video highlights the interconnections between sunflowers and people that are far deeper and more complex than I had been aware of.
I hope you enjoy the video. If the embedded video below doesn’t work for you, you can try clicking on this link instead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzwK6FDHBxo
The Prairie Ecologist 
Thank you Sarah! And Katie…and Chris. What a great video! I loved hearing the birds in the background as Sarah was speaking. Bringing the prairies home.
Great work, Sarah! And Chris and Kate got some notoriety, too!
Once again.WOW!! The sooner we can turn the world over to the “Sarah’s” the better. Yes, as soon as I saw the “V” of migration in the sky, what followed would be good.
This is Sarah’s mom and dad (aka – lucky people). We haven’t commented all year because this was Sarah’s endeavor, and she has worked all her life to create her own opportunities.
We wish to thank you all! What a great year she had!
Enormous thanks to Ann Hubbard!!
We know Sarah and Kate are extremely grateful for getting to know her!
And gratitude to Chris for his extensive teaching!
Before Sarah embarked on the fellowship she got to do a short project at St Louis’s wonderful Litzsinger Road Ecology Center. There she was told that Chris is basically a prairie rock star.
Sarah was grateful to find everybody affiliated with Nebraska TNC to be dedicated and hard-working, with collaborative leadership.
Our vicarious learning has been a real joy.
And Kate, we are of course also cheering amazing you on with wherever your dreams lead!
We thank you all for investing in the future of conservation.
Lucky is right! I feel equally fortunate to have had a year with Sarah and Kate. Thank you for those kind words and thanks for supporting your kid and encouraging her along her way.
Really nice work, Sarah. You’re an engaging teacher / nature educator, and awesome video editor, too!
One little thing regarding classification, sunflowers constitute a genus rather than a single species, and those 50-some named kinds of sunflowers are species rather than subspecies.
Fun video! Thanks for putting this together.
Fun video- and it is always great seeing the next generation bringing enthusiasm and a renewed commitment to conservation
Loved your video Sarah! Thanks so much. You should get extra credit for this.
Best wishes on your continuing journey.
Well done, Sarah!!!
Video’s a hoot!
Good job all.
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