When you die in Louisburg, Kansas, there is a pretty good chance you will be interred in one of two local cemeteries:
- Cashman Cemetery: This cemetery is south of Louisburg on 295th Street just west of Rockville Road Located on Metcalf Ridge Golf Course.
- Raymer Cemetery: To reach this cemetery, drive south of Louisburg to 295th Street and continue. It is just east of Rockville Road, on the Metcalf Ridge Golf Course.
Both cemeteries are well-kept and quite comforting to visit. And both feature many specimens of the Kansas State Flower, the Common Sunflower. If you visit the cemeteries in September, you will notice the blaze of yellow erupting all around the cemeteries. Also known by its Latin name, Helianthus annuus, sunflowers are a favorite food source for birds, insects, and of course, people. Goldenrods (related to the sunflower) are also plentiful, to the rue of allergy sufferers. While some sunflowers start blooming in July, it’s not till September that they reach their final height and are most visible. The Common Sunflower and its cousin, the Prairie Sunflower, are annuals. There are nine other species of sunflower found in Kansas, but they are all perennials.
It is complicated to tell different sunflower species apart because they often are hybrids of two species. Furthermore, even within a species, the degree of variability is great. But all you need is a little practice to learn to differentiate the various species.
Native Americans domesticated the Common Sunflower over three thousand years ago as a food crop. Lewis and Clark documented their use in their journals. These domesticated sunflowers have large, delicious seeds, much bigger than those of wild sunflowers. It took hundreds of years of careful selection to arrive at the large-seed varieties. The early New World explorers brought back samples to Europe for cultivation there.
Besides beautifying cemeteries, sunflowers are an important cash crop in Kansas. Sunflower oil is highly poly-unsaturated, and is considered very healthful, in addition to tasting good. Russia was the first country to industrialize its production, dating back to 1835. It is a non-volatile oil used directly in salad dressings and in cooking as a frying medium. Surprisingly, the oil is used also in cosmetics due to its emollient properties. The next time you are visiting the graveside of a departed loved one at the Cashman or Raymer cemeteries, take a second to appreciate the several species of wild sunflowers thriving there.