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, Arles, letter to Brother Theo
As mad as Van Gogh was later in life, his sunflowers are full of joy and passion; just the sight of them inspires enthusiasm and verve. No wonder even supermarkets offer bouquets of them. What a quick way to bring sunshine into your space.
My neighbor Fanny, watching me put in last year’s garden, said wistfully, “Our family always had Sunflowers outside our door. It was so much fun to see those really big flowers open up. The birds ate the seeds? No, indeed. My brothers love those seeds. They always get them before any birds do.”
She laughed, remembering her childhood.
We planted three sunflower plants near her window and yes, they came up. This time the birds had a feast.
Did you know that the sunflower allegedly was worshipped by the Aztecs and the Incan Empire and that Native American Indians put bowls of sunflower seeds on the graves of their dead?
Did you know the Sunflower’s open face follows the sun and symbolizes warmth and happiness, adoration and longevity – and that it is the 3rd wedding anniversary flower?
I once had a huge poster of sunflowers hanging in my sunny dining room and everyone loved to enter the warm, welcoming, yellow reflecting room.
Did you know that from sunflowers comes sunflower oil, as healthy as sunflower seeds?
Check out this site for sunflower eye candy. http://www.fabiovisentin.com/photos/world/gallery.aspx?idG=4
Meditation for the Day
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” Rabia Akram Multan, Punjab, Pakistani blogger, http://eecho.blogspot.com
Action for the Day
If it’s freezing cold outside, I can see sunflowers online. I can put a poster of one in my room. If it’s warm, I can grow one outside my door. I can draw one even if I can barely draw a straight line. Looking that close brings the sunflower into me and my life.
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