Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 18 UCW AUGUST 17 - 23, 2022 Fitness is not always about what we eat, maintaining a healthy lifestyle or how much we exercise. It is also about things that we love that bring joy. Happiness is a large contributor to our health and leads to many positive behaviors. Many things in life make us happy. I particularly like sunflowers; their large heads follow the sun from sunrise to sunset. ey derived their name from the Greek word Helianthus, Heli means son and Anthus means flower. Some Ancient cultures were known to worship them. ere is a mythi- cal story about the Sunflower and a couple called Clytie and Apollo. Apollo did not love Clytie, but she became a sunflower to offer hope, happiness and renewal, and she followed the sun each day spreading warmth and sunshine. ere are more than 70 varieties of sunflowers and an annual plant that comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors. ey are native to North America and one of the easiest plants to grow. e rarest sunflower for North and South Carolina is a perennial wild- flower. Its common name is Schweitz's sunflower, one of the rarest species of sunflowers in the U.S. e tallest sunflower was grown in Germany and reached over thirty-one feet. Sunflowers rotate during the day to pivot their faces towards the sun and can rotate as much as 180 degrees. Once the flower reaches maturity the flower faces east to gather the warmth of the morning sun providing a source for pollinating bees. Sunflowers have been used for aesthetic, medicinal and aesthetic pur- poses through the centuries. ey are a popular choice for weddings and floral decorations and have been used in many ways. e Cherokee Nation used the leaves to treat kidney problems and the Dakota for pulmonary and chest pains. e oils from the seeds were used as an oil to paint the body. ey were used for dermatology, appetite stimulants, sand painting ceremonies and used as suave. ey have a rich history as a food plan and are still eaten raw, cooked, ground, dried and used as oil. Purple and black dywes were extract- ed by soaking them in water to make color for baskets and body paint. ey were worn in the hair for ceremonies and carved wooden discs have been found in prehistoric sites in Arizona. It has been found that they have been used for fuel, food for poultry and live- stock. e Chinese have used fibers in the manufacturing of fabrics. e consumption of sunflower seeds has been linked to lower rates of cholesterol, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. ey are the source of vitamins that help to support your immune system and are high in zinc, selenium and boost your energy. Sunflowers for arrangements are an excellent choice adding a bold and rich color to a striking presence. Proper care can keep your arrange- ments lasting longer. Hydration is an important step in maintaining the life of your sunflowers. Water is essential in the first step of cutting for immersion and cutting the stems again to have continued water flow to the heads for extended shelf life. Using a preserva- tive can also help with maintaining freshness. Sunflowers cut from the garden should be picked a few hours after dawn for hydration. Sunflowers picked during mid-day may result in the flowers drooping. Place in contain- ers where the heads can be supported and remove all the leaves below the surface to prevent bacteria from grow- ing. Pair your flowers with greenery and flowers with a variety of shapes or a simple cluster. Live, love life and sunflowers. CYNTHIA ROSS, Personal Trainer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. FITNESS Sunflowers are happy, healthy by CYNTHIA ROSS Lending | Business Banking | Personal Banking LumbeeGuarantyBank.com We have We have been and been and always will be always will be a bank for a bank for everyone. everyone. Native American owned with open doors for all. We are Open! Elegant Customer Service Awaits You 2828 Raefd Rd. 910-988-7777 www.fayettevillepiccadillycircus.com Hours Mon-Sat 10-6 • Sun 12-5 SAVE THE DATE! Photo courtesy of Pexels