I transplanted about a dozen sunflower sapplings this spring. A friend's garden had them sprouting in abundance, so I took several to plant near my garden. Within the week, something - I suspect Mr Bunny but have no actual proof, had trimmed these down to 5 plants remaining. Then I got serious and surrounded these remaning four with chicken wire fencing, but some critter[s] was clever enough to circumvent this at 2 of the plants, leaving me with only 2. Eventually these 2 grew to maturity and have been blooming profusely the past month........but I'll be darned if I can get close to them for all the birds and bees they've been attracting ever since...... perhaps they know something I won't until next year this time :)