Helianthus annuus & GloryConvolvulus

(Helios means sun in Greek and annus designates it as an annual). ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Heliotropism. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vincent van Gogh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The phenomenon that is heliotropism was first described by Leonardo da Vinci (along with geotropism) in his botanical studies. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sunflowers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Trivia: Facts:

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Sunflower stems were used to fill lifejackets before the advent of modern materials. Low-pollen sunflowers have been developed in recent years which not only helps asthma sufferers, but extend the flower's lifeLanguage of Flowers: The dwarf sunflower means "adulation".Medicinal: The sunflower is grown for the seeds and oil it produces. Each mature flower yields 40% of its weight as oil.History: The flower was cultivated by North American Indians for many years as a food crop The nutritional value is still the main reason for growing it in many parts of the world. Only recently have we begun to grow sunflowers for decorative reasons.Zodiac: Sunflowers are bold and exuberant and one of the flower associated with the star sign Leo. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ah, sunflower! weary of time Who contest the steps of the sun Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveler's journey is done.William Blake, Songs of Experience ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “Bring me then the plant that points to those bright Lucidites swirling up from earth, And life itself exhaled that central breath! Bring me the sunflower crazed with the love of light” Eugenio Montale Italian poet, prose writer, editor and translator 1896 - 1981 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In 1805, explorers Lewis and Clark noted an abundance of sunflowers growing wild. When the first party of Mormons traveled from Missouri, they scattered sunflower seeds across the plains to mark the route in sunflower trails for the next wave of settlers. Pioneers of the West used them for food and sunflower oil was used, then as now, in cooking. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Morning Glory- Dwarf Morning GloryConvolvulus ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Georgia O'keeffe ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When our children were small we made a sunflower and morning glory gazebo. To this day the morning glories return. AH, What fun that was, and continued memories. Maybe I shall do that again next spring!

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Food for thought~ Morning Glory Muffins

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An enchanted Playhouse.

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Flower Language Morning Glory – Affectation Sunflower - Loyalty; haughtiness; you are splendid