Sunflowers

I am working with the enthusiasm of a man from Marseilles eating bouillabaisse, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to you because I am busy painting huge sunflowers. – Vincent Van Gogh, Aries, letter to his brother Theo

The sunflower is a flower that so many people love and adore. It is a flower that children love, and it is something that people look to symbolize summer.
No flower can lift someone’s spirits quite like sunflowers. They are bright and cheery, and as warm and inviting as the sweet summer sun. With brilliant yellow petals, also known as “rays,” sunflowers have an unmistakable sun-like appearance that has made them a crowd favorite, especially in the summer months.

Sunflowers come in a number of varieties—ranging from small to very large, from having yellow petals to red. However, there is more to sunflowers than meets the eye. While they are stunningly beautiful, they also are rich in history and meaning.
Sunflowers symbolize adoration, loyalty and longevity. Much of the meaning of sunflowers stems from its namesake, the sun itself. These flowers are unique in that they have the ability to provide energy in the form of nourishment and vibrancy—attributes which mirror the sun and the energy provided by its heat and light.

Sunflowers are known for being “happy” flowers, making them the perfect gift to bring joy to someone’s (or your) day.

Sunflower buds are odd looking at birth and develop into something else, don’t you just love
Metamorphosis.

The process of transformation and growth in nature? Sunflower buds indeed have a unique appearance when they first emerge. They often appear as small, tightly wrapped green structures with a rounded shape. As they mature, the bud undergoes a fascinating transformation, gradually unfurling and revealing the vibrant petals and beautiful sunflower head.

The growth of a sunflower bud into a full-grown flower is indeed a remarkable sight to behold. Witnessing the development from its initial form to the eventual bloom can be captivating and inspiring. It showcases the inherent beauty and complexity of nature’s design.

Nature constantly reminds us of its ability to create and transform, and sunflowers exemplify this phenomenon. From their peculiar-looking buds to the majestic and vibrant flowers they become, the process symbolizes growth, resilience, and the cycle of life. It’s truly a testament to the wonders of the natural world.

So yes, I do appreciate and find joy in the journey of sunflower buds as they transform into something magnificent. It’s a reminder of the inherent beauty and awe-inspiring nature of our world.

The sunflower is a flower that so many people love and adore. It is a flower that children love, and it is something that people look to symbolize summer.
No flower can lift someone’s spirits quite like sunflowers. They are bright and cheery, and as warm and inviting as the sweet summer sun. With brilliant yellow petals, also known as “rays,” sunflowers have an unmistakable sun-like appearance that has made them a crowd favorite, especially in the summer months.

Sunflowers are known for being “happy” flowers, making them the perfect gift to bring joy to someone’s (or your) day.

You are my Sunshine

Mass of sunshine

You are my sunshine

Sunflowers for Peace

Foundation Distributes Sunflowers to Hundreds

On May 15, staff and volunteers from the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation distributed hundreds of sunflowers to students and faculty at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Sunflowers have been known as an international symbol of a nuclear weapons-free world since 1996, when the Defense Ministers of the United States, Russia and Ukraine planted sunflowers in a field where Soviet missiles targeting the United States were once stationed.

The flowers were donated by a local flower farmer who wanted to spread the message of a nuclear weapons-free world in a creative way. To get involved in working for a nuclear weapons-free world, contact us at “Waging Peace/”.

The name Helianthus comes from the Greek words helios, meaning “sun” and anthos, meaning “flower.” They are known to turn their flower heads towards the sun throughout the day. As with other members of the aster family, sunflowers attract a host of pollinators in the late summer garden. In our Garden they are standing tall, blooming throughout September.

I shoot these sunflowers this morning at Johnson’s Corner Farm in Medford, NJ

Zen-sunflowers-in-the-rain

The-sunflower

Photo friday.com