Sun Lovers

Bright and cheery, bold yet comfortable, the sunflower, is a warm and lovely plant and a sun loving flower.
With brilliant golden yellow petals that surround the flower's centre, sunflowers have a sun-like appearance.
Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus), Helios=Sun+Anthos=Flower (Greek stems) comes in a number of varieties, and colours ranging from daylight yellows to deep brown to sunset reds.

Sunflowers originate from North America in 1000 BC they became an important part of diet of various Native Americans as a good source of fat when these peoples began to farm sunflowers.

Artists throughout the history, like Vincent Willem Van Gogh (Dutch post-Impressionist, 1853-1890), appreciated sunflower's unique splendour.                                   
It's amazing how the tall stalks and petals of wild sunflowers are stretched towards the sun. This unique behaviour is known as Photo-tropism (Greek stem), and this has appeared and is viewed as a symbol of loyalty and constancy in many ancient myths.
The use of sunflower images as religious symbols has also been documented in some native societies.
Their physical resemblance to the sun is often associated with adoration and longevity and evokes feelings of warmth, brightness and happiness. I really enjoy basking in the sunflower's warming glow!
With the sense of the sun positive characteristics that these flowers reflect, I'm sending you sentiments of cheerfulness and sunshine-y thoughts! xx
                                                               

50 comments:

JoJo said...

So cool! I can't wait to show off all my new sunflower facts to my friends. Who knew.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

I love all these sunny facts. Not a hugh fan of the sun (I burn too quickly) I adore sun flowers.

Ms. A said...

Well, thank you! I can use all the cheerfulness and sunny thoughts I can get!

ΕΛΕΝΑ said...

Πανέμορφα λουλούδια, έχεις την αίσθηση ότι το σπίτι γεμίζει ήλιο όταν το στολίζεις με αυτά!
Φιλιά, καλημέρα!

Ξανθή said...

Πολύ ωραία λουλούδια κι οι φωτογραφίες σου υπέροχες!!
Καλό απόγευμα!!

Lynette Jacobs said...

Beautiful sunflowers...we have fields of them in our country.

Unknown said...

Those were some interesting facts. Beautiful pictures.

Naqvee said...

HI BETTY, INDEED SUNFLOWER IS MORE GORGEOUS THAN ANY OTHER FLOWER, BUT I SUBSTITUTE MY LOVE WITH A MARIGOLD. AS SUNFLOWERS ARE HARD TO FIND AT THE FLORISTS, AND IN INDIA, MARIGOLDS ARE INTENDED TO BE USED ONLY FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES.. SO WE CAN FIND THEM EVERYWHERE WITH JASMINE. WHAT MADE YOU THINK OF WRITING ON SUNFLOWERS?
LOVE NAQVEE

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Thank you, Betty. Sunflowers look very happy which in turn makes me happy.

Great facts, BTW.

T

Joe Cap said...

Hi, Betty! You have done your research, it appears.
I love sunflowers, yes, they look so happy. While driving back home from south Texas over the weekend, we passed huge fields of sunflowers, it was awesome.
Have a happy day.

Nevine Sultan said...

Betty, these photos are gorgeous. They really show the beauty of the sunflower. I think sunflowers are some of the most beautiful flowers. For me, from far away, they look like big yellow smiley faces. I remember driving through the Egyptian countryside during summer and seeing all the sunflowers dancing around in the fields. What a gorgeous sight!

Thank you for sharing your lovely, bright thoughts and those pretty pix. As always, visiting you makes me smile.

Big hugs,
Nevine

Liz Mays said...

Just looking at them is cheery!

Emm said...

I adore sunflowers!!!! They are one of my favourite flowers and I can look at them and adore them for hours.

3 hungry tummies said...

Great photos! They sure brighten up my very cold evening! :) xxx

wenn said...

love the sunflower!

septembermom said...

You know that I enjoyed this post :) Thanks for these lovely facts too!

flying eagle woman said...

totally fun facts! thanks for the post, sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers, I had intended to plant some this year, never got around to it, now I'll just enjoy YOURS when I feel the need!
:-) THANKS for the post!
Shawna

Anonymous said...

sunflowers always make me smile, almost as much as a visit from you does my friend.

hugs ;)

Chapters From My Life said...

I have always felt they have one of the prettiest colors ....

Caio Fern said...

yes..... they are really really beautiful , Betty !
i magine your soul with this llok !

Unknown said...

I love your post Betty.
Great photographs and narrative.
Have a swell evening.
Costas

RA said...

Lovely post, thank you, Betty! And sunflowers ARE my favourite flowers... :)

Kelly said...

Beautiful, bright photos!!

I love sunflowers AND sunflower seeds!

Isn't there some old "wive's tale" about your daughters not marrying if sunflowers look into your yard or something?

I still love them!

Unknown said...

Great sunflower pictures, they really brightened an otherwise boring afternoon :)

Anonymous said...

They are beautiful...I never have much luck with them...

batsick said...

I knew much of the sunflower's name Helianthus. I actually like that name better than sunflower. Speaking of, I've never seen one for so long. The only newest flower I've seen was a Muscari.

My new blog is at www.thelunaticsdiary.blogspot.com
you can come look at my newest drawings over there!

-Sam I Am- said...

BETTY!!! How I've missed you so.
I loved all the yellow in this post. I'm sort of on a yellow kick right now. Must be summertime! Hope you're doing well.

love.

The Blonde Duck said...

I love sunflowers! We planted them in our backyard when we first moved here and they took over!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

Such a happy flower!

Trac~ said...

Ohh.. I LOVE sunflowers and these are just BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for sharing. Btw - our "getaway" is to Charlotte, North Carolina. :o) Big hugs my friend!

Matty said...

They're bright and refreshing. Yellow flowers are my favorites.

SquirrelQueen said...

I can't help but smile when I see sunflowers, they are so cheerful. Beautiful photos Betty.

Hope you are having a wonderful week.

athina said...

Beautiful flower!

English Rose ♥ said...

Summer in a post! Soo gorgeous and sunny!!

Merci beaucoup for your wonderful comments darling, it really means a lot =]

Je suis très désolée AGAIN for the late reply!

Stay safe and chic ma chérie,
English Rose x
http://iamanenglishrose.blogspot.com

Latsyrc728 said...

Hello! Thanks for the follow. I am stopping by to say hi and following you back from TFMB. : )
http://www.thriftyandfrugalliving.com

Anonymous said...

beautiful and full of proimse...


*sighs*

Anonymous said...

Sunflowers are my absolute favourite flowers! :)

Betty Manousos said...

Danielle, Thanks so much! So good to see you here! :) There is no way to reach you, I'm afraid.
xx

Unknown said...

Amazing pics, Betty!
Love sunflowers..they cheer me up!
Hugs ;)

ritsa said...

So cool and great facts!
Love your shots!

Peter said...

Love sun and sunflowers!
Beautiful pics!

Pat said...

I love sunflowers, and nothing makes me happier than seeing a whole FIELD of them, facing the sun!

Love the photos!

Slamdunk said...

Lovely. I remember growing them as a child--should try it again with our little ones.

Claudya Martinez said...

Thank you for the sunny thoughts and lovely images.

michael said...

Beautiful post and pictures!!
Hugs

Pat Tillett said...

I love sunflowers
I love sunflower seeds

what I don't like about them are ants! It seems whenever they grow in the ground, they attract them...

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love sunflowers. They are my favorites. I prefer the really tall ones you grow in fields that you can get lost in.

Don said...

It's hard to look at a sunflower and not smile a bit. They are marvelous.

best online pharmacy said...

We enable those patients with transportation issues, limited access to quality medical care and privacy needs to have their medications safely delivered directly to their door, without the hassle and time constraint of visiting a doctor.

Buy Phentermine Online said...

You are really an excellent blogger, and i appreciate your effort and wonderful work. Thanks for sharing.