I bought some white peonies yesterday at a local store. I ADORE the smell of peonies and the white ones just feel magical in the vase from Spain that they’re currently placed in on my kitchen counter. I walked downstairs this morning and their fragrance greeted me which immediately put a smile on my face! It’s the little things, don’t you think? At least it has always been for me…the little things…little pleasures.
But sunflowers seemed to be calling me when I made this blog which isn’t really like me. I’m more of a peony, rose, midnight jasmine, lilac type of girl. I like the floral scented flowers that are more delicate, petite and not so…well, present like sunflowers. And yet, it was the sunflower who drew me in, especially with the triumphant, arms spread wide open, almost ready for an embrace photo above! The view from her back means she can be you or me! She’s ready to embrace the day and put a smile on her face – just like the sunflowers.
Let me tell you about sunflowers!
Why sunflowers? The sunflower’s yellow color symbolizes vitality, intelligence, and happiness. The color yellow also traditionally symbolizes friendship. And if that’s not enough to explain why…let me tell you more!
They’re annuals, meaning they come back every year! Their bright blooms go all summer long which makes them hearty. Additionally, sunflowers are heat-tolerant, resistant to pests, and attractive to pollinators. A trifecta of triumph, don’t you think? And…they make beautiful cut flowers to decorate your home and their seeds are a source of food for birds and for people! They are known to grow quickly and some varieties can reach heights of 16 feet (yes feet!) with a diameter of 12 inches!!
You did know that young sunflowers always face the sun, right? That’s called heliotropism. But once mature, they stop following the sun and they forever face eastward. They are what I like to think of as a community flower, meaning their roots spread widely and they self-sow their seeds so that they grow in groups. Their multitude of seeds to me represent the millions of connections we make over a lifetime.
Additionally, each sunflower ‘head’ is made up of smaller flowers. The petals that we see around the outside are called ray florets, which cannot reproduce. But the disc florets in the middle, where the seeds develop, have both male and female sex organs, and each of them produce a seed. They can self-pollinate or take pollen blown by the wind or be transported by insects. Did you know that about sunflowers?
I wake up in the mornings grateful to be here and excited for the day ahead. Looking on the bright side (sunshine) literally like the sunflower is how I begin my mornings. So it seems only right that I should feel akin to the sunflower. Don’t you think so?
What’s your favorite flower? Can you understand my affinity with the sunflower?
Joyful Change With Yvonne 