OUR STATE FLOWERS 



483 



name of several plants of the genus 

 anemone, section Pulsatilla. 



OKLAHOMA AND MINNESOTA ACTED 

 OFFICIALLY FIRST 



Oklahoma was the first of our States 

 to take legislative action in the adoption 

 of a State flower. In January, 1893, the 

 Territorial government was considering 

 the question of exhibits for the Chicago 

 World's Fair and a Territorial seal. The 

 ladies of Oklahoma had presented a peti- 

 tion asking that the mistletoe be made the 

 Territory's emblematic flower. A bill to 

 that end was accordingly introduced and 

 passed by a large majority. 



Minnesota had a bill pending to make 

 the moccasin flower the State's official 

 blossom at the same time that Oklahoma 

 was debating the issue of the mistletoe. 

 In February, 1893, the Gopher State was 

 preparing its exhibits for the Chicago 

 Fair. The Ladies' Auxiliary of the State 

 World's Fair Commission found only 

 an official flower lacking — which they 

 thought ought to be used in the scheme 

 of decorations. So they prepared a bill 

 making the moccasin flower the emblem- 

 atic representative of the Commonwealth 

 and presented a widely signed petition in 

 favor of its enactment. The legislature 

 promptly passed the bill. 



The next State to take action was Ver- 

 mont. A concurrent resolution to adopt 

 a flower was introduced in the House 

 of the Vermont legislature, October 19, 

 1894. It was considered by a special 

 committee consisting of one member 

 from each county — fourteen in all. The 

 name of the flower was not specified until 

 November 8. On that date an agreement 

 was reached which led to the amendment 

 of the bill by the insertion of "red 

 clover." 



The next State to act was Nebraska. 

 On the 29th of January, 1895, the dele- 

 gate from Boone County introduced a 

 bill to designate a floral emblem for the 

 State. It provided that the goldenrod 

 should be the emblematic flower. On the 

 23d of March the bill was taken up in 

 committee of the whole. One of the 

 delegates, having in mind that Nebraska 

 was a free silver State moved to substi- 

 tute the word "silver" for "golden." His 



motion was not considered, and the bill 

 was promptly passed by the House and 

 Senate. 



Delaware was the fifth State in the 

 Union legislatively to adopt a State 

 flower, when by an act of the legislature, 

 approved May 5, 1895, that State chose 

 the peach blossom as its representative. 

 There was very little debate and the sen- 

 timent in its favor was practically unani- 

 mous. 



Montana also chose a State flower in 

 1895, its legislature adopting the bitter 

 root almost unanimously. 



Michigan followed the example of Del- 

 aware in awarding its floral honors to the 

 blossom of its favorite fruit. In the pre- 

 amble of its resolution, approved April 

 28, 1897, adopting the apple blossom, the 

 legislature declared that a refined senti- 

 ment seemed to call for the adoption of 

 a State flower ; that the blossoming apple 

 trees add much to the beauty of Michigan 

 landscapes ; that Michigan apples have 

 gained a world-wide reputation, and that 

 at least one of the most fragrant and 

 beautiful flowered species of apple, the 

 Pyrus coronaria, is native to the State. 



The year 1899 witnessed the accession 

 of two States to the ranks of those enjoy- 

 ing legislatively created floral emblems. 

 On January 30, 1899, a petition was in- 

 troduced in the Oregon Senate reciting 

 the fact that the women's clubs of Port- 

 land, in regular session assembled, had 

 declared in favor of the Oregon grape as 

 a State flower, and asking the legislature 

 to enact their recommendation into law. 

 What little debate there was indicated a 

 practical unanimity of sentiment, and the 

 measure was ready for the Governor's 

 signature on February 2 of that year. 



IN COLORADO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN 

 OVERRULE THE LEGISLATORS 



Colorado holds a unique position in the 

 matter of flower legislation. The law- 

 makers of the Centennial State passed an 

 act, approved April 4, 1899, designating 

 the white and lavender columbine as the 

 State flower of Colorado. This, how- 

 ever, did not please the school children. 

 Accordingly, on Arbor Day of 191 1 they 

 submitted the question to a referendum 

 in which they were the only qualified 



