It’s a Sunflower State (of Mind)

The sunflower, known all over the world, is the state flower of Kansas.  I know this because I had to remember it for tests all the way through elementary school.  For some reason, those elementary school teachers think that you should know all the pertinent details of your own state better than any other.  Apologies go out for those kids whose parents moved around a lot.

The sunflower is a big flower named after its large yellow head.  Van Gogh actually did a painting series on this bright, healthy flower – yeah, I found that surprising too!  Actually, it’s a plant more than a flower and mass produced for its seed and oil – both very tasty.  However, its many values are not the reason for this post.  I am sharing this because my neighbor, my Florida neighbor, has sunflowers in her backyard.  What?!! 

Florida is home to palm trees, caladium, and agave plants.  The state flower of Florida is the orange blossom.  Don’t sunflowers need seasons; the extreme summer heat followed by excessive winter cold?  Isn’t that what makes them grow into fields full of mini suns, their faces directed upward as they bask in the glorious heat of that large burning ball we call the sun? 

Orange blossoms don’t grow in Kansas so why should sunflowers grow in Florida?  Looking out my back door and seeing them thriving in my neighbor’s backyard almost feels like thievery.  They are Kansas gold for goodness sake.

I guess in the long run, it doesn’t matter.  I can’t turn her into the crop police and she might turn me in if I try to remove them from her yard!  So, I get to see a little reminder of my roots every time I look into her backyard.  Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.  I do have lots of good memories from the sunflower state.  I guess in hindsight, I’ll take them as a reminder from where I’ve come from and appreciate more, where I am now.