Daylilies and Kingsley Headstone
John Kingsley Jr. died on September 14, 1859 at age 33. His toppled gravestone was uncovered in 2017. To date, no clues to his identity have been discovered but research is ongoing.
Around this tombstone are daylilies, a common plant found along roadsides, forests, and in the wild. Fans grow many varieties and even breed them. Each bloom lasts only a day. Most sources say to saute the unopened flower buds with a little butter or oil, just lily buds, butter and salt. The the little tubers look exactly like fingerling potatoes, while others are pure white, like the inside of jicama. Same treatment to the tubers: Butter, salt, saute. Think really young fingerling potatoes, only with a sweetness to them.
In 2016, the neglected land was overgrown vegetation and wild raspberries. The raspberries were relocated to the Food Forest area. The overgrown land at the cemetery’s northwest border was eradicated of weeds and roots. This process uncovered the hidden John Kingsley, Jr. headstone in 2017. The bare land was grass-seeded successfully. Daylilies, recovered from the partial demolition of the Bull’s Head neighborhood almost two miles north, transplanted here successfully in 2018.
The previously wild northwest cemetery border now has an attractive garden that links with a decorative western border garden and the food forest containing wild black cap raspberries under cultivation. A massive toppled tree created the conditions for the wild raspberries that remained undisturbed for many years.
John Kingsley Jr’s headstone 
Daylilies in bloom 
Overgrown weeds and wild raspberries in 2016. In the background of the photo is Genesee Baptist Church. 
Daylilies and Kingsley headstone cleared for restoration and new gardens. 
Daylilies and Kingsley headstone restored to garden appearance