Fibonacci

The Fibonacci Sunflower Candle by: Nicole Barresi

The Fibonacci Sunflower contains the awe of God’s magnificent designs. The wonder of His Artistic and Mathematical Mind meet in the glorious creation of the sunflower. 

Do you notice the spirals contained in the center of the sunflower also known as the head? Do you see two sets of spirals moving in opposite directions? There are florets in the head of the sunflower that are tiny flowers in the center of the circle that make up the spirals. How many spirals do you see moving in one direction and then going in the opposite direction? There are 34 spirals rotating in one direction and 55 revolving in the opposite direction. 

  Fibonacci, also known as Leonardo of Pisa, was an Italian mathematician, who discovered this number sequence in which the previous number adds to the preceding number to equal the next number in the sequence. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, etc.   

The numbers 34 and 55 that appear consecutively in the Fibonacci sequence are also found in the spirals of the sunflower. 

Do you know of any other parts of nature that reflect the Fibonacci sequence? If you guessed pine cones then you’re correct. Pine cones also exhibit 8 spirals rotating in one direction and 13 spirals revolving in the opposite direction, showcasing the consecutive numbers found in the Fibonacci sequence.

Create a scavenger hunt in order to search for other parts of nature containing the Fibonacci sequence. The winner can light the Fibonacci Sunflower Candle. This candle will help you to recall the wonder-works of God, the Creator of All, and His precise attention to detail within His Craftsmanship. 

Answer key: nautilus shells, starfish, galaxies, pineapples, tree branches, and flowers-lilies, buttercups, delphiniums, and daisies.

Bonus: Search “The Golden Angle”, “The Golden Ratio”, and “Phi” for a more in depth understanding.