The sunflower (helianthus annuus) is an amazing plant.  The sunflower gets its name from its huge, fiery blooms.  In Mesoamerica, where sunflowers were first cultivated around 4,500 years ago; they were the symbol of the solar deities for the Aztecs, the Otomi of Mexico, and the Incas in South America.  In the 1500s sunflowers were introduced to Europe where they became a popular food source.  Here are some mind-blowing sunflower facts:

• The sunflower bloom is actually a composite flower made up of 1,000-2,000 individual small flowers (florets).
• The outer florets bear the petals and are sterile i.e. no seeds inside.
• The florets in the bloom form an interconnected spiral pattern.
• Each floret is oriented toward the next by approximately the golden angle, 137.5 degrees.
• The numbers of right versus left spirals are successive Fibonacci numbers!
• Typically there are 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other.
• The tallest sunflower ever recorded was in Padua, Italy in 1567. It grew to a height of 40 feet!
• The sunflower genome is larger than the human genome!

     Currently, Bob's Market is testing and preparing to start our own UStream Channel.  We are still in the planning phase, but we do have some great ideas.  UStream is a live video service.  That means that the video is broadcast over the internet the moment it is shot.

     We will be using this channel to cover live events, tours, and we are also thinking about a weekly show!  However, creating a show is a big commitment, and we want you to get the most out of it.  What would you like to see in a weekly show?  When would you like to watch it?

You can email you suggestions directly to me at ask@bobsmarket.com or send me suggestion through Twitter by replying to @BobsMarket with the hashtag #BobsLive.  You can also make suggestion on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bobsmarket