The sunflower was found by Francisco Pizarro in Tahuantinsuyo, Peru.  The sunflower was worshipped by the natives Incas as a symbol of the sun god. At the beginning of the 16th century, the sunflower seeds and gold figures of the flower were brought to Europe.

The sunflower is native to the Americas. Evidence indicates that the sunflower was first domesticated in Mexico around 2600 BC.  It may have been domesticated a second time in the middle Mississippi Valley.  It may also have been introduced there from Mexico at an early date.

The earliest known examples of a fully domesticated sunflower north of Mexico are in Tennessee around 2300 BC. The sunflower was used by many indigenous American peoples as the symbol of the sun deity, including the Aztecs and the Otomi of Mexico and the Incas in South America.

During the 18th Century, the use of sunflower oil became very popular in Europe, particularly with members of the Russian Orthodox Church because sunflower oil was one of the few oils that was not prohibited during Lent.

By Elizabeth Harding

Vincent's Sunflowers

"The sunflower is mine in a way." –Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" are among his most famous paintings, but few people realize he did many sunflower pictures, not just the most famous "Vase with Twelve Sunflowers" and "Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers." These were canvases he made to decorate the Yellow House in Arles in anticipation of his friend Paul Gauguin's visit, and in the hope that other artists would follow and form a Utopian art community. Some of Vincent's sunflower paintings are all but indistinguishable, with only tiny differences to prove one reproduction is different from the next. During his stay in Paris, he painted cut sunflowers in different stages of being, from fresh to wilted to dry.

He appears to have brought his passion for sunflowers with him from his homeland in Holland wherever he roamed, and indeed, they make the kind of dramatic subject he loved. Around the world today, the sunflower is synonymous with Vincent's work, immediately recognizable and every bit as much his own as the water lilies belonging to Monet.

Vincent's "Sunflowers No. 2," the most famous sunflower still life, yellow on yellow, possesses the same universal appeal and impact of all his most beloved pictures. So widespread is the appeal of his sunflowers, in fact, that in 1987, a Japanese company paid a record of the equivalent of almost 40 million dollars for "Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers" at an auction. Van Gogh's many sunflower canvases are flung all over the world in testimony to his mastery, now residing in art galleries in Europe, London and Tokyo, to name a few.

During his stay in Paris, Vincent hobnobbed with some of the greatest Impressionist painters of the period. The artists all had a great effect on one another, including van Gogh, who was recognized as a formidable genius by "Les Vingt," Monet and Toulouse Lautrec, among others. One can readily discern the Paris sunflowers from the ones Vincent painted later, in the Yellow House at Arles, since they are cut flowers without vases. These cut sunflowers are depicted in various stages of wilting, but Vincent's final bright and bold color palette is evident at this point in his artistic development, permeating the pictures with life and joy.

The master's influence on western art and artists cannot be overstated. His work bridged impressionism, expressionism, cubism and more with a unique language understood by all lovers of beauty and truth. The enormous popularity of a simple vase of sunflowers attests to his power and sincerity.

Though Vincent was plagued by a serious mental imbalance and eventually took his own life, he left a body of over 2,000 canvases, painted in about a decade, as a living legacy. Whether they represent his portrayals of living fields of wheat or swirling stars, tender and thoughtful portraits of the peasants he loved or starkly vivid flowers in a simple vase, his works all bear his own stylistic imprint. Seen as a superb form of communication of the spirit, his work succeeded beyond his wildest dreams to comfort and console humanity through art. It is through his paintings, not his over-romanticized, beleaguered life, that he should be judged as the poet, prophet and master artist he was.

Visit the Life of Van Gogh website for more information on Van Gogh paintings, or to get out own Biography of Vincent Van Gogh.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Harding
http://EzineArticles.com/?Analysis-of-The-Sunflowers---Vincent-van-Gogh&id=300570

By Jason Levin

In the West, sunflowers have traditionally only been considered for their ornamental or nutritional value. However, further research and experimentation have uncovered a surprisingly wide range of potential applications. In truth, sunflowers have been harvested for a variety of reasons for thousands of years. It is widely believed that American Indians harvested sunflowers long before they harvested corn.

While those people from past generations could not have imagined the ways in which sunflowers would one day be used, they discovered their own uses for the plant. Their creativity and resourcefulness imply that they understood the plant's potential lay beyond purposes that were merely decorative or dietary. In this article, we'll provide a brief overview of how sunflowers are being used today.

Skin Care

The cosmetics industry has always gone to great lengths to promote a new crop of products. When sunflower oil was revealed to have a smoothing effect on the skin, manufacturers quickly explored how to include the oil in their formulations. Today, the oil that is extracted from sunflowers is used as a non-occlusive moisturizer for the face and body.

Consumption For Health

Sunflowers provide oil that contains a high level of essential fatty acids. These fatty acids, particularly omega-3's, offer a number of health benefits. They lower cholesterol and thereby, prevent heart disease. Plus, continuing research has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids can even lower blood pressure. Restaurants and food manufacturers have begun using sunflower oil to prepare foods, replacing other ingredients that contain much higher levels of unhealthy saturated fat.

Whether the seeds are eaten as a low-fat, high-protein snack, or the oil is used for cooking and baking, sunflowers continue to play a large role in our diets.

Industrial Uses

A lot of people would be surprised to learn that sunflowers are being used in various industrial and commercial settings. For example, scientists discovered several years ago that hydrogen could be produced from sunflower oil, offering a renewable energy source that was friendly to the environment. With the price of fuel escalating, the thought of using hydrogen powered engines (by way of sunflower oil) to propel our vehicles is tantalizing.

Other applications are either widely used or currently being explored. For example, using oils is necessary for the production of certain types of paints and plastics. However, oils that contain high levels of linolenic acid can affect the color of these compounds. Limited usage in production runs suggest that sunflower oil may be an alternative. Meanwhile, in countries where the price of sunflower oil is comparatively lower (i.e. countries throughout Eastern Europe), the oil has been used for years to produce soaps and various detergents.

Sunflowers are also used for coloring purposes. Once the seeds have been harvested and dehulled, they can be used to produce dyes. These dyes provide coloring for an assortment of products including textiles, baskets, and even bedding materials.

Looking For Answers

Scientists continue to explore different ways in which to leverage sunflowers' myriad industrial uses. They have tested the plant's efficacy in the production of lubricants and adhesives. They have experimented with them while creating fabric softeners and pesticides. Sunflowers were even used to help eliminate uranium from the soil following the Chernobyl disaster.

It is likely that researchers will uncover additional ways in which sunflowers can provide value to our lives. More than a nutritional snack, moisturizer, or source of essential fatty acids, sunflowers may become a powerful natural resource that outperforms alternatives at a lower price.

Order sunflowers online at the Sunflower Guy online store and deliver smiles to someone you care about.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Levin
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Diverse-Uses-For-Sunflowers&id=1675507

By John Yazo

Sunflowers like nothing better than the nutrient rich humus that can only be found in an organic garden. This type of natural organic fertile soil is what will have your plants thrive by producing a strong healthy plant with vibrant yellow flowers that will light up your yard and garden. Along with the beauty of these plants, they will create an environment to attract wildlife that will benefit you in a natural method of pest control and for you to enjoy the beauty of nature in your own yard.

There are many different varieties, sizes, color variations and shapes of sunflowers that you can choose from. They can be chosen for there beauty or to be harvested for bird feed and human consumption. Whichever variety you choose and for whatever purpose, you can be sure that they will be the highlight of your garden.

When choosing a variety it is best to make sure you choose one that produces a healthy strong stalk to support the flower size to withstand the threat of possible wind damage that could accrue. A plant that produces a good healthy strong stalk will prevent them for falling over, not only because of wind but also due to the weight that a large flower can have.

Sunflowers like full sunlight, a nutrient rich humus soil and also need to be planted where the flower is going to face east. They need to have between six to eight hours of direct sunlight to thrive and produce a large healthy flower. A soil that is full of organic rich nutrients is very important.

The root system of a sunflower will grow very quickly and require large amounts of nutrients at a steady basis. Without the proper maintenance of the soil a sunflower can deplete these nutrient needed for it to thrive a produce a strong healthy plant and flower. A weekly watering and feeding of a nutrient rich compost tea will keep the nutrients in the soil and improve the soil structure if your garden at the same time.

Sunflowers are a easy plant to grow with very little care. A good healthy organic nutrient rich soil is the key to growing sunflowers that will thrive and produce a vibrant flower that will brighten up your yard.

A environment friendly and healthy way of gardening. Organic Gardening is away of gardening in harmony with nature. Growing a healthy and productive crop in a way that is healthier for both you and the environment.

John Yazo

http://www.organicheirloomgardening.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Yazo
http://EzineArticles.com/?Organic-Gardening---The-Best-Method-to-Use-For-Growing-Sunflowers&id=2023880