was trying to think of a unique tag for Sammy, right? All the sudden my brain said, “Sweet Sunflower Child”
And I was like, yeah sure, ok that sounds nice. I didn’t really think about it too terribly much but then I did research and
There’s a misconception that sunflower heads turn to face the sun. This is only true of immature flower heads. Once matured, sunflower heads face east. Even if transplanted to face a different direction, within a few days it will face east again.
Consider: Sam straying from hunting, from Dean, turning his boyish face to the sun of a simpler life, with wishes and hopes and dreams in his youth. In maturity he stares steadfastly toward the path infront of him, allows himself to catch glimpses of the sun, and endeavors to keep the night at his back.
While the most economically important of the 4 “domesticated” plants native to the US, the sunflower is still often considered a weed. Despite the fact that every inch of the plant contributes to some product or process (from cooking oil to livestock feed, latex to biodiesel) when wild and in the wrong environment, sunflowers can be harmful to crops.
Consider: Sam is of such monumental importance to the world. He offers it so much, and lets himself be picked right apart so the world can get at it easier. And yet he can only see himself as a weed in a cornfield. Even more heartbreaking: because they don’t know any better, other people see him that way too.
They have tall, course stems and bristly leaves (it is actually not very pleasant to touch them, let me tell you) paired with brilliant, sunny, summer faces. They’re a hardy plant, not too fussy about their soil or environment.
Consider: DOn’t talk to mE.
Allelopathy: an organism produces biochemicals that influence the survival of the organisms around them. Annual species of sunflowers are one such breed. Several Native American groups planted sunflowers nearby their other crops to help them grow, survive, and thrive.
Consider: Dean. Do I really have to say anything else? Honestly?
Sunflowers can be used to extract harmful toxins from the soil and from water. They were used to remove radioactive material from a nearby pond after the Chernobyl disaster.
Consider: Taking on a burden that was never his. Accepting the toxic waste of the world into himself to lighten it’s load, though it was never his to bear, standing tall and smiling wide all the while. Don’t look at me.
The Sunflower is the StaTE FLOWER OF KANSAS ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME
Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. I have a lot of feelings about Van Gogh as it is but he painted the sunflower series mostly as gifts to other people (his brother, for one, and an artist he admired for two). They depict sunflowers in various stages of growth and decay and they’re just gorgeous really and I just
Consider: Sam and giving things away. Sam and growth to decay. Sam like the sad and lonely man who dedicated himself, wholeheartedly, to the hopeless endeavor of painting, of being an artist. Who endured rebuke and ridicule, never seeing success or gratitude in his lifetime (EXCEPT FOR THE LOVE OF HIS BROTHER). Who died at least half-mad and, quite possibly, in an attempt to cover for the mistakes of a few young boys with a gun.
I’m never going to be ok again
