Heres the dummy fleurrr. 

It is attached to the server motor with a bit of tape for now.

As the arm of the servo rotates left, the flower will open and then close as the lever arm moves through approximately 180 degrees.

Now I need the flower to respond to a change in its environment. That is I want it to close up, retract, shy away from the world in a protective manner. Then when safe, open up once more.

mmmm.

Pete has suggested I use an ultrasonic motion detector...sounds very sci-fi, but to me looks like  a miniature ghetto blaster.

the ultra sonic motion detector

On the left, is the servo motor, on the right is the motion sector, arduino (below) and bread board on the right.

There are three wires coming from the servo, red, yellow and black. 

Red is + charge, the black is -  and I think the yellow is the data wire that controls the servo.

Wiring and basic coding done, you will have to take it from me that the ultra sonic motion detector was a bit of a beast, it turned mon fleur into a bit of a venus flytrap..ie too powerful for the job in hand, so Pete found something with a bit less wellie, and I have to say it now works beautifully.

less wellie