I love sunflowers. Someone from our church brought us some beautiful sunflowers this past Sunday. I have enjoyed them all week.
I was thinking about them as I went to sleep last night. I had the most interesting dream. Rarely do I remember the details of my dreams. But this one was so spectacular, God has let me enjoy the memory all day.
Right outside our house, I saw a large tree covered in sunflowers — a sunflower tree! While I was looking in amazement, I heard a Voice, Who said, “This is The Tree of Life.”
I then woke up!
I already knew some things about this fascinating flower, but tonight I did some research and learned more. It truly does represent The Tree of Life!
Before blooming, sunflowers tilt during the day to face the sun.
This movement continues for a short time when flower buds form and young sunflowers continue to track the Sun.
At night, the flower heads reorient their position and face East in anticipation for the sunrise.
Sunflowers move back to their original position between 3am and 6am, and the leaves follow about an hour later.
By the time they are mature, they generally stop moving and remain facing east, which lets them be warmed by the rising sun.
Studies found that consumption of sunflower seeds was linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Sunflower seeds are a source of many vitamins and minerals that can support the immune system and increase the body’s ability to fight off viruses.
Sunflowers have a remarkable ability to absorb toxins, including toxic metals and radiation.
Following nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl and Fukushima, scientists planted millions of sunflowers to help the land recover. Similarly, they’ve also been planted in areas with high concentrations of lead.
In Mexico, the flowers were thought to soothe chest pain. A number of Native American tribes agreed with the plant’s curing properties. The Cherokee utilized an infusion of sunflower leaves to treat kidneys while the Dakota brought it out to sooth “chest pain and pulmonary troubles.”
You might think each sunflower is just a single bloom, but each flowerhead is actually made up of up to two thousand florets. These tiny flowers are packed full of nectar, making them a great treat for bees.
Self-pollination is a mechanism that this flower uses to stay alive. On the occasion when it receives no pollen, the flower will twist and wrap itself around its own pollen. Seeds created by self-pollination will produce flowers that look just like the original plant.
I want to be like the sunflowers. And when I get to Heaven, I am going to be looking for that sunflower tree!
Because of the tender mercy of our God, through Whom the rising sun will come to us from heaven.
Luke 1:78
Jesus’ Face shone like the sun!
Matthew 17:2
