Sunflower

Helianthus

Sunflower

Leo

Happiness, Far Sight

Native to North America, Sunflowers need full sun and enjoy hot summers for flowering. The plants can grow up to 12 feet tall but the tallest require support. The flowers attract bees, birds and butterflies, as well as deer and squirrels who feed on the seeds. 

 

Helianthus comes from the Greek helios anthos, meaning “sun flower.” In popular culture, sunflowers symbolize happiness.

Sunflowers are commonly yellow with a brown center but are also grown in orange, red, brown and bi-color.

Sunflower seeds are harvested for food; the seeds can be eaten or pressed into sunflower oil.  The first use of sunflowers for cooking and for healing was by the Native Americans about 3000 BC in the American Southwest. Today it is a commercial crop grown all over the world. Sunflowers will grow in soil ranging from sand to clay; good soil drainage is required.

Sunflowers follow the sun.  The blooms track the progress of the sun across the sky.  Those drawn to sunflowers also track the light, or we can say they attract the light.  The essence and energy of the sunflower can be seen in people with optimistic personalities– those who can pay more attention to the positive things in their experience.  

The very long stems reach for the sky, showing us that we too can grow above those around us to see the knowledge and wisdom that may otherwise be lost in the complex detail of life.  We can stretch our heads above our everyday experiences to see into spiritual depths with ease.

Sunflowers are often planted in rows so that they protect each other from the rain and wind. You can see the benefit of being surrounded by people who live with the knowledge and wisdom that we are more than our physical selves, and who value the spiritual along with the physical experience. 

Sunflowers have been used throughout history as food, for oil, for ceremony, for commercial and artistic purposes.  They represent longevity in our lives – look at the variety of uses as symbolism of all that sunflower brings to us to support us in longevity.

Myrtle

Vinca Minor

Growth, Simplicity

Myrtle (Vinca Minor), a flowering ground cover, is also known as Creeping Myrtle, Common Periwinkle, Dwarf Periwinkle and Periwinkle flower. This perennial has blue flowers in the spring and summer that are most often blue and can also be purple or white. The color name periwinkle is from this flower color. Myrtle does well in part shade to sun and likes well drained soil. The vines have smooth, evergreen leaves and spread quickly.  The plant grows up to 6 inches in height and the vines can be up to 1.5 feet long.  It is frequently used as a ground cover and on slopes to prevent erosion.  

These plants native to Europe and are deer and rabbit resistant.

 

Two plants are similar, Vinca major, which thrives in warm regions and has larger leaves, and Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus ). Madagascar periwinkle has similar flowers, but is also a tropical flower and is grown in full sun.  Flower color can be hot-pink, lavender, lilac, pink, red or white.

Myrtle, grown as a ground cover, shows us how something relatively small can have a big impact. It reminds us to be kind with our words since the impact of something spoken can be received in a deeper way than we may intend.

Myrtle also shows us the strength in spreading our wings and letting ourselves grow.  Once we open the door to something meaningful, we may find many offshoots to the original action, magnifying and spreading beyond what was expected.  

This plant also emphasizes the profound beauty in simplicity and it teaches us to examine the path in front of us and our surroundings.  We may not need as much detail or ornamentation as we think to accomplish a goal or to be content in our homes.   

Similarly, by growing close to the ground, Myrtle teaches us the value of keeping thoughts close to the chest.  Better to focus energy on accomplishing goals than to focus energy on discussing them. Once goals are accomplished, others will notice. 

Morning Glory

Ipomoea

Cancer

Intuition

Morning Glory flowers are annual sun loving climbers with slender vines that can grow up to 15 feet in a single season.  From the vines grow heart shaped leaves, tendrils that will cling to supports  and funnel shaped flowers in blue, purple, pink, red, yellow and white. Most Morning Glory flowers open into full bloom in the early morning, although some are night blooming flowers (Moonflowers). The plant blooms in summer and fall, and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Deer and rabbits like to feed on this plant. The plant reseeds itself.

Morning Glory seeds are poisonous and are a known hallucinogenic, once used by the Aztecs to produce visions.

The Morning Glory is a surprisingly easy to grow plant that has layers of complexity in its growth patterns and bloom time: The vines grow quickly and can reach great vertical heights if provided with support.  If no support is available, it grows as a ground cover.  If you are preparing to bloom in creative areas of your life, are you receiving the support you need or are you reaching for support that isn’t there? You need to know that both paths can be satisfying, and that even without the support you may be reaching for, you still receive the spiritual support your soul is asking for and your creative endeavors will result in satisfying fruition. 

Morning Glory plants bloom in the sun or in the evening. If you are drawn to these flowers, examine your abilities to see with keen intuition those things that are self evident as well as things that are hidden, or people want to keep hidden, in the dark. 

Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos

Scorpio 

Adaptations, Living Colorfully

Hibiscus is a shrub known for its large showy flowers and for medicinal tea made from the flowers and leaves.  Hibiscus flower blooms in white, yellow, pink, purple, peach and orange. Some versions change colors as the flowers age. In warm climates, tropical hibiscus can grow up to 20 feet; flowers are 3 to 6 inches across, with some up to 12 inches across. Flowers bloom almost continuously in tropical climates.

Hibiscus enjoys sun and well-drained soil. Tropical hibiscus, also called China Hibiscus and is the  National Flower of Malaysia, does not tolerate freezing temperatures.  Hardy perennial hibiscus, also called Rose Mallow or Swamp Rose, and hardy hibiscus shrub (Rose of Sharon) will tolerate cold weather. Hibiscus attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

Hibiscus originated in tropical regions in Asia and the Pacific Islands. It is the state flower of Hawaii.  

As a tea, it has been used in many cultures for blood pressure. It has also been used to lower body temperature and to treat digestive issues and infections. Hibiscus has also been examined for its antioxidant properties.

Hibiscus teaches us adaptations - it came through many adaptations to survive in cooler climate and in areas far from its tropical origin in south Asia.We too can adapt to our surroundings, survive in any conditions, and still be colorful and bloom.

Hibiscus bloom nearly all year long, with tropical hibiscus flowering slowing down in very hot weather. For those who like to continuously move forward, a period of slow growth, whether personally, in relationships or in business, can be seen as a period of conserving energy and regenerating all of the elements needed for the next prolonged forward march.

Hibiscus shows us that it's fine to be big, to be splashy and colorful. Go ahead and be the life of the party, crate paintings with bold strokes, wear the bright colored clothes and give yourself full permission to live life boldly.



 

Hyacinth

Hyacinthus

 

Virgo

Relationships, Rebirth

Hyacinth is a sun-loving plant that sprouts highly fragrant flowers in spring from bulbs planted in fall. One bulb usually produces one stalk and one cluster of flowers. After Hyacinths flower, the plant continues to store energy for the bulb until the leaves have yellowed.  The flowers are best known for their violet blue to purple color but area also grown in other shades as well as red, orange, pink, white and yellow. Hyacinth bulbs are toxic to humans and pets. 

Hyacinth is a native of the Middle East. The flowers became popular in 18^th century Europe where many varieties were grown in Holland, leading to the name Dutch Hyacinth.  In ancient Roman mythology, the god Apollo accidentally killed a young man and the flower grew from his blood. Hyacinth bulbs are toxic to humans and pets. 

The cluster of flowers in a hyacinth bloom is symbolic of our families and relationships; a single stalk produces a cluster of flowers.  The cluster is our reminder that we are surrounded by our family and friends and ancestors.  Even when we are seemingly alone, we have the spirit of our ancestors carrying us through our joys and difficulties. Hyacinth is a reminder that we are never alone and if we feel we are then we can call on the spirit of nature and the spirits of our ancestors. 

  

Hyacinths are symbolic of rebirth, emerging early in spring. The flowers bloom in spring colors bringing us true joy and vibrancy from the earth and plant kingdom. Their fragrance is also a gift, reminding us to enjoy the sweetness of life.

Tulip

Tulipa

Aries

Balance, Essence of Life

Tulips are sun-loving flowers that grow from bulbs and flower in the spring in every color, including multicolor, except blue. One flower grows on each stem and flowers may be single, double, ruffled or fringed.The flower buds are known to be almost perfectly symmetrical.Tulip petals are edible raw.  After tulips flower, the stem and foliage continue to produce energy for flowers next year. The bulbs like a period of cold and dormancy to rest in between flowering.

In Central Asia, Tulips were cultivated by Turkish growers as early as 1,000 AD. They were brought to Europe in the 16th century and Holland grew into a primary tulip grower and exporter.  Some 3,000 varieties of tulips are registered.

Tulips bloom each spring after a period of dormancy, emphasizing the theme of rebirth.  Plant or purchase tulips or look at an object with the tulip image to bring the energy of rebirth into your home and life.

Tulips bring a rainbow of colors to the earth, including red, pink, purple, violet, white, cream, yellow, orange, black and green. They can be used to balance chakras: using the live flowers or image (real or imagined), bring the color of the flower into the chakra you want to balance, with the intent that it be perfectly balanced. Repeat for all chakras.

Tulips are here to remind us of the colorfulness, vibrancy and essence of life after a long winter.

The flowers show us that after being patient we too can open in a colorful way to all that life has to offer. 

Tulips grow in many shapes and colors, mirroring humanity on earth. Meditate with tulips for bringing balance into global situations or conditions with wide-ranging impacts.

The plant shows us the possibility that to live simply, focused on our life purpose, without self-created drama and complications, can be colorful and joyful.

Tulip plant leaves open and reach for the heavens, showing that we too can open and reach to the heavens with our wants and desires. The leaves form a cup – encompassing the physical manifestation of our wants and desires – holding them close and dear to us.

Tulips bloom from bulbs each spring, thereby teaching us to enjoy these moments in the sun, and once the flower is gone, to remember we all live in the sun.