HAVE A SUNNY AND HAPPY WEEKEND

Ah Sun-flower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun:
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveler's journey is done.
Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow:
Arise from their graves, and aspire,
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go!

William Blake

Sunflower fields near the Gilboa mountain. 
Helianthus Annuus, the lovers of light and followers of the sun - this is a beautiful myth, but actually only the buds and leaves follow the sun, the flower, once it has opened will stay, facing the east where the sun rises.

Golden, bright and proud, they bring joy to our hearts with their range of colors, the sun yellow petals, and the seed pots, changing from light green to dark orange over burnt red to the black seeds.

Sunflower oil, low in saturated fat and very healthy.
Sunflower seeds, tasty and a great source of vitamin E.
Some varieties are excellent for bird feed.
Sunflowers arranged in a vase on the table - a delight.
 

Sunflowers as a Dye (this is for you Hilde): sunflower petals can make natural dyes which range in color from yellow to orange or a light tan. Sunflower seeds can also be used for natural dye, particularly the Hopi dye variety which can produce grey to dark purple shades.

 Vincent van Gogh

At early dawn, like soldiers in their places,
Rank upon rank the golden sunflowers stand;
Gazing toward the east with eager faces,
Waiting, until their god shall touch the land
To life and glory, longingly they wait,
Those voiceless watchers at the morning's gate.
Dawn's portals tremble silently apart;
Far to the east, across the dewy plain,
A glory kindles that in every heart
Finds answering warmth and kindles there again;
And rapture beams in every radiant face
Now softly glowing with supernal grace.
And all day long that silent worship lasts,
And as their god moves grandly down the west,
And every stem a lengthening shadow casts
Toward the east, ah, they love him best,
And watch till every lingering ray is gone,
Then slowly turn to greet another dawn.

Albert Bigelow Paine

 Claude Monet

Enjoyed by us yesterday and photographed by my husband Uri Eshkar.

The last photo: my Shabatt flowers from our son's girl, who will be soon his wife - each Friday afternoon I get a bunch of flowers from her. :-)

P.S. My Japanese blogger friend Yoko turned my attention to a similar post she had about sunflowers, two years ago. Have a look here.