Symbol of Nuclear Disarmament
***Did you know?***
After the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine, sunflowers were found floating in a small pond in an affected fallout area. As a result, the Chernobyl Sunflower Project was initiated to plant Sunflowers and remove radioactive isotopes from the water. Sunflowers have the ability to effectively absorb cesium and stronium pollutants and naturally use them as nutrients for its own growth. In 1996, when Ukraine declared itself a nuclear-weapon-free nation, US Secretary of Defense William Perry famously proclaimed that "sunflowers instead of missiles in the soil would ensure peace for future generations."
Sunflowers are native to the Southwest in North America. It is said that they were one of the first crops to be cultivated - even before corn - by the Cherokee and other Native Americans. The sunflower was brought to Europe by explorers and later gained heightened interest through Peter the Great of Russia, who admired the plant for its grand size and propagated the seeds for cooking oil.
Today, Sunflowers are a beloved ornamental plant to many gardeners, farmers, and has even been a subject in the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh. Paying homage to its name, the sunflower grows whole-heartedly in direct sunlight. Once they are sowed, they spread and grow vigorously, and attract the infatuations of many wildlife such as bees, butterflies, birds, and squirrels.
The seeds of the sunflower are ready for harvest when the petals begin to brown and wilt. You can cut the stem and hang the sunflowers upside down to dry the plant completely, then scoop the seeds out by hand. Sunflower seeds are renowned for its healthful nutritional contents including magnesium, selenium, Vitamin E, Vitamin B1 and B6, folate, and niacin. My personal favorite is eating colorful chocolate covered sunflower seeds as a delicious sweet snack!
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