Back in May of this year, we planted 18 rows and 5 columns of sunflowers. Best we can tell is we yielded about 50% of what was planted. Certainly, if there ever was a plant to be named after the sun, it should be this one. What a sheer delight these gorgeously bright yellow, orange and red blooms are to view and to discover more about. Who can argue against the beautiful and magnificent bright yellow petals and the fact that it appears to look towards the sun.
We planted sunflowers because many people view this flower as being highly spiritual. These flowers appear as if they follow the sun as it moves each day from East to West in the sky. It makes the flowers look as if they are highly loyal and devout, just as a follower of faith is.
Watching these grow the past few months, it is a myth that all sunflowers are heliotropic (species that seem to track or follow the movement of sun). We also learned that these flowers absorb harmful toxic elements and radiation from the soil and clean up the environment. Being so good for the environment as well as beautiful to look at, it is no wonder that the sunflower has now truly become a symbol of peace and also hope for the future of humankind. But it was very cool to watch those that do track the sun’s path. The largest one, about 12 feet now, is just starting to bloom. Wonder if the blooms will track the sun?
No matter how small or how little light there is, sunflowers are believed to seek out the light and hold their heads high as if in worship and adoration of the sun. This flower represents happiness, radiance and all things that are positive. They are therefore a symbol of true and faithful loyalty to something that is much brighter and bigger than themselves. Very much like The Dakota Center itself, thanks be to God.
