A Closer Look at the Kansas State Flower: the Sunflower

Ah, Sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the Sun, Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveler’s journey is done: Where the Youth pined away with desire, And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow Arise from their graves, and aspire Where my Sunflower wishes to go. — William Blake, English poet, Ah! Sun-flower

“Sunflowers do need a ton of sun. Don’t be stingy with the sunshine and put them in part shade. These are plants that appreciate all the rays they can get.” March 12, 1903 On this day, the Kansas State Flower was officially selected. Governor Willis Bailey signed the legislation that designated the wild native Sunflower…

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March 12, 2021 National Plant-a-Flower Day, Francesco Franceschi, Nancy Goodwin, Allen Lacy, the Three-Tulip House, Forest by Matt Collins and the Kansas State Flower: the Sunflower

20200101 The Daily Gardener Album Cover

Today we celebrate a man remembered for bringing a ton of new and exciting plant species to California and his profound impact on Santa Barbara in particular. We’ll also learn about a year of letter-writing between two garden greats. We hear an excerpt about the first time tulip bulbs were used as money. We Grow…

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