Though “ The Sunflower State ” sobriquet technically belong to Kansas , three of its northerly neighbors outrank it in terms of actualsunflower output : South Dakota , North Dakota , and Minnesota , in that order .
Like any other farming crop , sunflowersare harvest and process into various product , from sunflower seed crude oil and nut butter to plain oldedible sunflower seeds(not to note all the flower that end up in bouquets and other floral arrangement ) .
But in mid- to late summer , before the harvest begins , you could see fields upon field of helianthus in tiptop bloom across the aforesaid states . Many farms receive visitors — though rules , activity , and costsvary wide — and the photogenic fields are generallyconsidereda point of land pride and a pop tourer attracter .
North Dakota ’s touristry plank , for case , publish an annualsunflower blooming guideto help out - of - towners optimize their viewing experience .
“ Our golden field of honor draw in visitant from all over who are captivated by the bright efflorescence and warm hospitality found across North Dakota each summertime , ” Sara Otte Coleman , touristry and marketing director for the North Dakota Department of Commerce , said in apress press release .
While sure fields are already past peak peak , some farms in North Dakota areanticipatingthat their sunflower will stay perky well into September . AsSmithsonianreports , this is partly because cold temperature and rain induce a planting delay earlier this class .
North Dakota ’s chronicle of helianthus husbandry date stamp back to the 19th century , when the Homestead Act of 1862 actuate Ukrainian immigrants to settle in the part . Sunflowers were — and still are — a key Ukrainian harvest , and the settlers continued the tradition on their new land . As Ukraine’snational flower , the sunflower has also recently become a democratic symbolization of reenforcement for the body politic in the wake ofRussia ’s encroachment .
Feast your oculus on some more enchanting photos from North Dakota ’s helianthus fieldshere .
[ h / tSmithsonian ]
