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Ah, Sunflowers


THE WILD SUNFLOWER
~By Albert Bigelow Paine~


At early dawn, like soldiers in their places,
Rank upon rank the golden sunflowers stand;


Gazing toward the east with eager faces,
Waiting, until their god shall touch the land


To life and glory, longingly they wait,
Those voiceless watchers at the morning's gate.



Dawn's portals tremble silently apart;
Far to the east, across the dewy plain,


A glory kindles that in every heart
Finds answering warmth and kindles there again;


And rapture beams in every radiant face
Now softly glowing with supernal grace.



And all day long that silent worship lasts,
And as their god moves grandly down the west,


And every stem a lengthening shadow casts
Toward the east, ah, they love him best,


And watch till every lingering ray is gone,
Then slowly turn to greet another dawn.




Ah, SUNFLOWER

~ William Blake ~ 

Ah Sun-flower! weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun:
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the travelers journey is done

Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow:

Arise from their graves and aspire,
Where my Sun-flower wishes to go.






"Keep your face to the sunshine
and you cannot see the shadow.
It's what sunflowers do."
by Helen Keller



A FEW SUNFLOWER FACTS




The scientific name for the Sunflower is Helianthus.  It comes from two words, Helios meaning sun, and Anthos, meaning flower. The sunflower "often" follows the sun, and this characteristic is how got its name.

The Sunflower is a good bee plant

In many parts of Europe sunflowers have provided/and still provide leaves for smoking, flower buds for salads, flowers for dyes, and oil for cooking.


The sunflower is not one flower, but a cluster of more then 2000 tiny flowers growing together.

A sunflower's head can grow to be as big as 2 feet across and the plant itself can be as tall as 18 feet.

The tallest sunflower grown on record was 25 feet tall and was grown in the Netherlands.

The largest sunflower head on record measured 32 1/2 inches across its widest point and was grown in Canada.

The shortest mature sunflower on record was just over 2 inches tall and was grown in Oregon using the Bonsai technique

The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas.

The sunflower is the national flower of Russia.

The French word for Sunflower is tournesol, or literally "turn with the sun".


Flower Meaning -
Dwarf Sunflower: Adoration  Tall Sunflower: False Riches


TWO GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Winner of the Sugar Cubes and Cookies giveaway from Le Chic Bakery Boutique is

and Winners of the embroidered napkins from The Golden Turtle are 
Jenny at Full of Craft
 and
Please contact me via email ladies, and include your email address and contact info which I'll pass along to the shop owners so they can contact you.  CONGRATULATIONS!
Another giveaway this week from The Tassel House...stay tuned!

TABLESCAPE SOURCES:

Hand painted Tuscan Sunflower glasses:  A Stroke of Jeannie-ius 
Yellow plates, sunflower bread plates:  English Transferware 
Vintage Linens: Pixie Dust Linens
Butterfly Pillow: Jan and Paul Creations
Pip Berry Candle rings (used under appetizer plates) and Sunflower button garland: Decorators Friend


Linking to:


Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
House of Hepworth
Centerpiece Wednesdays
Toot Your Horn Tuesdays 
Transformation Thursday
Strut your stuff Thursday
Second Time around Tuesdays
Inspiration Tuesday
Tidy Mom

Comments

  1. What a great sunflower table. I could feel very comfortable there! Have a great week! Sandi

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  2. BRAVO!! Yet another great table Nancy...you always out do yourself my friend...Love it and nothing is as pretty as a sun flower...Great job once again girl...Hope you have a GREAT day my friend...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  3. i love sunflowers, cute table! did you paint your glasses, always a fun project~ love the yellow plates and napkin rings.

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  4. Very pretty, I love the dinner plates! Sunflowers are a very happy flower, love the way they keep moving!

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  5. Your tablescape is absolutely breath taking. The poem was so enchanting. I love the English transferware plates, sunflower glasses, and beautiful pillow. I love it all. And if that wasn't enough, I see I won one of the giveaways. Thank you so much. I will be emailing you. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. I LOVE sunflowers and especially love your tribute to them! Fantastic tablescape, love the centerpiece and those glasses are terrific!

    DD

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  7. Of course, I love your table, it is all about sunflowers! I love the unusual white and yellow plates.
    Have a great weekend.

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  8. Nancy, Another beautiful table and I love the English transferware. Growing up my mother grew sunflowers in our yard. They always remind me of her.
    Hugs, Sherry

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  9. Totally gorgeous table, and what a pleasant blog visit. Thank you for sharing your table with me today.

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  10. A beautiful tablescape. Very well coordinated. I wish I had those glasses. We are on the same wave length this week. I also have a sunflower theme as my tablescape.

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  11. What a wonderful table! Those sunflower-painted glasses are fabulous, and you've put together to many other pretty dishes and other elements to carry out the sunflower theme. Love it!

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  12. This is just beautiful. I love the placemats and the yellow plates. Goes great with the sunflower theme!

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  13. Such a pretty table and I enjoyed the words that accompany your photos. I just love sunflowers.

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  14. Lovely combination of Sunflowers, table settings and poetry.
    Very nice....

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  15. What a great tablescape. The sunflower theme is so cheerful - wish I had a big bunch for my table. The hand painted goblets and ebroidered napkins are very pretty.

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  16. Nancy, its a very sunny and cheery table with all this nice sunflowers on it. Your china is always stunning and the glasses are gorgeous. This blue and yellow faux berry decoration reminds me to firecrackers lights. Makes all so festive.
    I wish you a very happy 4th of July.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  17. Wow!!! This is just exquisite. I absolutely love it all. I love sunflowers and your glasses and dishes are just fabulous. So pretty. I would never in a million years thought of using the berry wreaths as plate liners, but they are just stunning. I havn't ever seen them in blue and yellow. I am in awe. So pretty. Hope you have a fabulous 4th. Hugs, Marty

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  18. Nancy, thanks for sharing another exquisite post. The table setting and the poetry are beautiful! ~ sarah

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  19. Love the sunflower facts. I especially love that my whole crop of sunflowers are happily pointing directly to my neighbors yard. Turn with the sun, not so much.

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  20. Nancy, this is a beautiful table! I truly LOVE sunflowers!!!!

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  21. Nancy,
    I had no idea there was yellow transferware. You got me on this table. It is lovely. I just drooled, I mean looked around awhile on your Etsy shop and I will have to get a bowl and pitcher, maybe for Christmas. I didn't realize you had sold on Ebay, I bet I have bought something from you in the past. Have a great 4th! Love all transferware. So many unique and wonderful patterns in your Etsy!
    Sherry

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  22. Nancy,

    That yellow transferware is gorgeous!! I love sunflowers so this is one of my favorite tablescapes! Love all your details...just beautiful! Have a wonderful Fourth!!

    Miss Bloomers

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  23. Love you tablescape!! All those dishes are so pretty and I love the glasses!!!!

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