Hopefully spring will not be that far off.  Thoughts are already turning to the garden and what to plant this year.  I’m thinking that this may truly be the year of the sunflower.  Reading about all of their virtues – it’s surprising that we do not plant more of them in our gardens.

The sunflower flower is native to the Americas, along with blueberries, squash and pecans. Sunflowers are a source of food, such as seeds for snacking, grinding the seed for flour or using the oil for cooking.  They can be used as dye for coloring clothes a purple color.  Sunflowers are also be used medicinally to cure snakebites.  Even the stalks can be used as a building material.

Sunflowers and therapeutic gardens

Best of all – sunflowers just make you feel better.  Looking at their happy yellow color can brighten any mood.  They remind us of the sun with their bright yellow petals.  They are cheery and make great gifts.  Sunflowers come in a range of colors from yellow to sunset red.  Elf is a great dwarf variety to grow with kids. Look for ones, such as especially good for snacking. Be sure to add them to your list of ‘must have plants’ for the 2012 garden.