Sunflowers

“Light-enchanted sunflower, thou
Who gazest ever true and tender

On the sun's revolving splendour.”

- Pedro Calderon de la Barca

My sunflowers have bloomed this week and they make me so happy every time I go out to water the garden! Seeing their nodding faces, happily following the sun just makes me smile.

A few fun facts about sunflowers:

Sunflowers belong to the genus “helianthus” - a name that refers to the sun god Helios.

Images of sunflowers have been found in the Andes mountains, in temples. As well, priestesses of the Incan people used to place large sunflower disks of gold on their clothing. Native Americans used sunflower seeds as offerings, and these were placed on the graves on their ancestors. They also used the seeds for blue or black dye, and the petals for yellow dye.

Sunflower seeds are full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Magical uses are said to include happiness, fertility, health, wisdom, confidence, and the elemental correspondence is fire.