Ah, summer. The birds, the bees and 10,000 sunflowers planted where 195 used to be. At least that’s been the goal each summer for Adam E. Anderson, creator of the 10,000 Suns art installation, which has the lofty goal of having 10,000 mature sunflowers in the space throughout the summer months.
Anderson had the idea for 10,000 Suns for seven years before being able to act on it. He went to the 195 commission to get permission to use the space, which they granted to allow the first installation in 2016. This summer will be the fourth sunflower planting. Anderson says he “believes in the transformative potential of urban landscape initiatives as a necessary and critical component to a city’s infrastructure.”
Funding for the project has been different each year; this year the majority of funds came from a Kickstarter campaign that ended in mid-May. The campaign raised nearly $3,500 and had 79 people behind it. The people who support this project don’t just give money, though. Each year for the planting alone there are typically 20 volunteers who help give the sunflower seeds their start.
The transformation of an otherwise underutilized area into a vibrant, living installation demonstrates how thoughtful planting and community involvement can redefine how people interact with their surroundings. Each season builds upon the last, reinforcing the idea that landscapes are never static—they evolve through care, participation, and a clear vision. The presence of volunteers, returning year after year, highlights how even simple acts like planting seeds can contribute to something far greater, creating a space that resonates both visually and socially.
In many ways, this reflects the broader principles of intentional landscape planning, where design is guided by purpose, sustainability, and long-term usability rather than short-term aesthetics alone. Carefully structured layouts, appropriate plant selection, and efficient water management all play a role in ensuring that outdoor spaces remain both functional and resilient over time. By observing approaches similar to those you might notice when you view website, it becomes easier to understand how cohesive planning supports growth while minimizing unnecessary upkeep. They understand that your landscape is a big investment, so they provide you with a low-pressure approach to the process.
What sets truly successful outdoor spaces apart is the ability to translate a client’s vision into something that feels both personal and enduring, rather than formulaic or temporary. This is where tailored design becomes essential, ensuring that every element—from plant combinations to structural features—responds directly to the character of the property and the people who use it.
With Sugar Green Gardens, that philosophy is reflected in the way each project is approached as a distinct canvas, resulting in landscapes that feel intentional, balanced, and entirely one-of-a-kind. The added assurance of a money-back guarantee further reinforces a commitment to quality and client satisfaction, removing uncertainty from what can otherwise feel like a significant decision. When design is handled with this level of care and accountability, the end result is more than just an attractive space—it becomes a living extension of the home, evolving naturally while maintaining its integrity and purpose over time.
That same sense of intentional planning should also extend to the practical mechanics of the installation process, where the success of a landscape transformation often depends on how efficiently the site is managed from the ground up. Soil excavation, removed shrubs, broken paving, branches, excess mulch, and hardscape debris can accumulate quickly during redesign work, and without a clear removal strategy, even the most thoughtfully designed project can lose momentum.
In this stage, dump trailer rental provo becomes a valuable logistical complement, allowing crews to keep the property clear while moving waste, stone, soil, and planting materials in step with the broader design plan. Much like the landscapes themselves, efficient debris handling supports sustainability, long-term usability, and a cleaner workflow, ensuring that every phase of the project remains aligned with the vision of a refined, enduring outdoor environment.
Anderson’s day job is working as a landscape architect — he’s the founder and director of Design Under Sky (D.U.S) and he teaches at RISD. He does most of the planting for 10,000 Suns on the weekend with his volunteers. Not only does Anderson plant all the flowers, but he helps maintain them, too. “I’ve spent about 250 hours working from May of last year,” Anderson says.
The land is planted with sunflowers in circular patterns so that passersby can go through the maze of sunflowers and get lost in the sunflower garden in the middle of PVD. On the weekend there are hundreds of visitors to the green space. Anderson is quick to point out that the land could have been used for something else completely. In fact, Anderson’s goal is to “raise people’s expectation in open spaces,” especially when it comes to how land is developed. Anderson said, “It makes the stakes higher for developers. Any developer could have come in [and built a building], but now it’s a sunflower field.”
Why sunflowers, though? Sunflowers (or Helianthus if you wanna get some science in here) are annuals, which means that each year they have to be replanted. They grow primarily in the late summer months and can grow to be 6 to 10 feet tall. According to Anderson, they work as bioaccumulators (they absorb toxins), act as a pollen source for bees and can provide food for birds in the area. Basically, these sunflowers are amazing for the environment. Or as Anderson says, “Aesthetics only have a small part in it. This is a big impact on the area.”
The sunflowers should bloom toward the end of July and last through October. The installation is free and open to the public day and night. It’s located near the river where the new pedestrian bridge is being built. Just look for the sunflowers.
For more information, please visit designundersky.com/10000-suns or follow the hashtag #10000suns
