Sunflower Power!

In my high school creative writing class, in order to maintain anonymity, we each selected a code name for our work. I chose “Sunflower.” To teenage me, sunflowers were magical. And sturdy and strong. And somewhat other-worldly. They are unique in their power to bring joy. And at 60+ I still feel the same way about them.

This spring we decided to put a good amount of sunflower seeds into the lowest part of the field which retains the most moisture. Lavender doesn’t care a bit about moisture, so we gave over the space to other flowers that do like to have wet feet. We planted sunflower seeds some weeks apart, so we expect to have sunflowers into the fall.

Meaning of Sunflowers

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 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.

(from proflowers.com)

History of sunflowers

The development of the commercial sunflower has been a multi-national effort spanning continents and thousands of years. The sunflower is native to North America and was first grown as a crop by indigenous tribes over 4,500 years ago.

Native Americans cultivated the sunflower from its original bushy, multi-headed type to produce a single-stemmed plant bearing a large flower. The crop’s multiple uses included milling for flour or meal production to make bread and cakes. Seeds were roasted, cracked and eaten whole, either as a snack or mixed with other grains, nuts and pulses into a type of granola.

The early Americans also discovered that sunflower oil could be extracted and used for cooking. Aside from the crop’s value as a food, archaeologists have shown sunflower had a variety of non-food uses. The sunflower’s oils and pigments were used as a sunscreen or the basis for a purple dye for skin, hair or textile decoration, while the plant’s sturdy, fibrous stem was exploited in construction.

The sunflower continued as a staple within North America for about 4,000 years until it was discovered by European explorers in 1510. Spanish sailors were the first to gather up large quantities of sunflower seed and ship it back to Europe.  But for the next 200 years, Europeans overlooked the food and oil-bearing potential of sunflowers. Instead, the exotic-looking flowers became widespread across Western Europe as an ornamental or, to a lesser degree, medicinally as an anti-inflammatory.

Over the past 25 years the sunflower market has continued to grow and it now ranks as the fourth most important oil crop in the world, after palm, soybean, and rapeseed.

Global Top 10 Sunflower Seed Producers 2017 (yield m t)
Ukraine 12.24
Russia 10.48
Argentina 3.55
Romania 2.91
China, Mainland 2.58
Bulgaria 2.06
Turkey 1.96
Hungary 1.89
France 1.62
USA 1.00
Source: FAO 2017 

Artists throughout history loved the sunflower’s unique splendor—those of the Impressionist era were especially fixated on the flower. The use of sunflower images as religious symbols has also been documented in some native societies.

(from nuseed.com)

Vincent van Gogh’s memorable painting of sunflowers.

Some unusual uses:

In addition to uses you are familiar with such as making bouquets, creating sunflower oil, and offering sunflower seeds for humans and birds to eat, sunflowers have some uses you might not know about.

Used for Making Paper: Sunflower stalks or stems have been used in the past to make paper. The stems have fiber from which paper can be manufactured. The Utilization of Sunflower Stalks in Paper Manufacture is an old publication from 1914 which features a study of making paper from cooking the stalks and then beating and bleaching the resulting pulp to make paper.

Providing Pretty and Edible Petals: As well as the seeds, you can apparently eat sunflower petals although I've never tried this. The petals are also sold in a dried form for herbal tea blending and also to use as colorful additions to potpourris.

Feed for Livestock: Sunflowers are also used as feed for livestock and animals. Livestock are able to graze on sunflower fields where they can graze on the heads of the plant as well as most of the stalk. The heads contain most of the nutrition value since the seeds are high in energy and also have protein.

Making Non-Gluten GF Flour: The seeds were originally used by Native Americans where they were ground up to make flour for baking bread and cakes. You can buy sunflower flour and you can also make your own flour version at home where it is especially useful for those following a gluten free diet.

Removing Nuclear Radiation: The roots of this plant have been very effective at removing radiation from soil. They were used to clean up the Chernobyl disaster as well as Fukushima. They provide a real beacon of hope and healing. This amazing plant is now also the symbol of a nuclear weapon free world.

(from sunflowerjoy.com)

Quotes about sunflowers:

Most sayings on sunflowers are positive and make ideal sentiments to add into greeting cards and to send to friends when they need some love, cheer and joyfulness sent their way. Quotations that are ideal for good friends, best friends, new friendships and old.

"Sunflowers are like good friends; they bring happiness and joy to your life." ~ Unknown

"A true friend will overlook the weeds in your garden and praise your sunflowers instead." ~ Unknown

"Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men and animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock." ~ Henry Ward Beecher

"Sow seeds of friendship day by day to enjoy a lifetime of happy sunflowers." ~ Unknown

"Sunflowers are the perfect flower to gift to friends because they symbolize good luck, happiness and everlasting loyalty." ~ Unknown

"Yellow stands for the sunflower: loyal, steadfast and true. A flower that is a symbol of the very best type of friendship that you could hope to have." ~ Unknown

Goodnight sunflowers.

Get some sunflower power!

Come join us at the farm post lavender season for some sunflower picking. We are open every weekend from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and this time of year there is no admission fee. Follow us on facebook and instagram to learn about some special Sunflowers Till Sundown events.