“I only look at you”, Sunflower

 The flower that men who want to make a shy confession often look for is the sunflower. With the pretty flower language of "I only look at you," this flower has the charm of bringing a bright smile to the recipient through the contrast between its dark yellow petals and wide seed parts. It is also a flower that is very good at capturing focal points and is loved by many florists. Today we will learn about sunflowers, the protagonist of this lovely flower language.

 

Sunflowers with their vivid beauty ( Image by Leopictures from Pixabay)

What about sunflowers?

 Sunflower is an annual herb native to Central America. It is a flower that blooms from the beginning of hot summer and beautifully decorates August. Usually, you come across products with a single sunflower flower on a single stem, but in the wild, multiple flowers can bloom on a single stem.

 The ecological characteristics of sunflowers are very unique. It is said that the large flower is not a single flower but a collection of several flowers. It is said that each of the outer yellow petals has a pistil, and even the part where the seeds grow in the middle is made up of several flowers. That's why they say that multiple sunflower seeds grow in one flower.

 The English name for sunflower is Sunflower, and its scientific name is Helianthus annuus, a name created by combining the words 'helios' (sun) and 'anthos' (flower). There are various theories as to how the name sunflower ('Heabaragi" in Korea) was introduced to Korea. Some say it literally means looking at the sun, but the most likely theory is that it was created by sounding the Chinese name "Hyangilgyu (向日葵)."

 Recently, at flower markets, traditional large-faced sunflowers are sold in groups of five, and small-faced sunflowers are sometimes sold in groups of five, so you need to be careful when choosing. Also, it is common to have one flower face per plant, but sometimes there are multiple flower faces. Recently, varieties have been bred to come in a variety of colors, and in addition to the traditional yellow petals, some have green or dark brown petals, and some have light green central seeds, making them great for creating a unique atmosphere.

 

An elegant sunflower vase decoration ( Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay)

How to use sunflowers

 First of all, since a lot of moisture evaporates from the leaves when conditioning, it is best to remove only one or two leaves if possible. When you first cut it, a white core will come out, but over time, it will change into a transparent jelly form. The secret to long-term care is to cut it little by little and frequently to prevent it from turning into jelly. The height of the distributed stems usually varies from 50 centimeters to 1 meter, and because they have very thick stems, they can be stored at room temperature for up to 7 to 10 days.

 When making a bouquet, it is common to use only one sunflower, and when tying it in a bunch, it is convenient to place the sunflower alone. It's easy to get a standard because the stem is thick and heavy, but it has the disadvantage of being heavy. So, when using sunflowers, it is easier to catch the flowers by surrounding them with flowers that have a slightly firm feel or some type of mist so that the flowers can settle down well. When handling flowers with thick stems like this, you need the skill to relax your grip as much as possible, let it go loosely, and then gradually hold it with a stronger feeling after completing the spiral arrangement of the surrounding flowers.

 When constructing a flower basket or set piece, it is important to cut sharply diagonally and place it in place as thick stems can cause the floral form to collapse. Sunflowers are especially well used in set pieces, and they are great for use as a main material in "the New Convention design" technique, which has recently been in the spotlight as a design for decorating receptions and large halls. This New Convention design, which is called a modified form of parallel stem arrangement, is a way to decorate a space with splendor and elegance by arranging stems that intersect horizontally and vertically, so sunflowers with strong stems and high flower stalks are perfect.

 I will teach you various flower decoration skills through the cut flower section. If you are interested, it is a great skill for housewives and children to use as a side job or as a financial investment skill. If you are dreaming of becoming a wonderful florist who lives a leisurely life through simple investment of time and your own creative activities, please stop by often.