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The Conception of the Vermont State Bird and Flower

Friday, December 14th, 2012

The introduction of state symbols for the state bird of Vermont has had a lot to do with various women’s groups, such as the Vermont Federated Women’s Clubs who helped choose and publicize the state bord of the state. Chosen for there proliferation throughout the 14 counties of the state the Vermont legislature adopted the Red Clover as the state flower and the Hermit Thrush as the state bird.

On February 1st 1895 an act of the Vermont state legislature was passed into law that decpared the state flower to be the Red Clover, or tritolium pratense. The state legislature had sourced a flower that was present throughout the state and reflected the common farming industries of Vermont. A three leaved purple flower is a common sight around Vermont’s countryside and urban areas, where it grows on roadsides; under the act of the state legislature the red clover is determined to reflect the farming industry, which is important to the economy of the state. Red clover is often grown by farmers, specifically dairy farmers who use the purple flowers as grazing food for their cattle. The only debate about the use of the red clover as the state flower was caused by the fact the flower is not native to the state, but was brought to the U.S. by European settlers who began the use of the flower in Vermont as farm animal food.

Unlike the choice of the red clover, which was supported by the majority of the residents of the state the decision to choose the Hermit Thrush as the state bird was controversial. Initially chosen by the Vermont Federated Women’s Clubs as the state bird the small, six inches long bird only spends the Spring to Fall in the state before migrating to warmer climates for the Winter.

Many members of the state legislature put forward other birds that spent the majority of the year in Vernmont as the state’s symbol; included in the other choices were the Blue Jay and Crow. Despite the Women’s Clubs choosing the Thrush as the state bird in 1927 the state legislature did not back the choice until June 1941 when an Act of the legislature was passed. Although the bird is found in all 14 counties of the state the nature of the bird to hide from public view did not make it a popular choice for state bird. The Women’s Clubs of Vermont stated the beautiful call of the Hermit Thrush was one of the major reasons it was chosen as a state symbol.

Snowbird License Plate

Proudly display your Home State’s Bird & Flower on your car, camper or golf cart – 12

Vermont State Bird Mug

Snowbird State Of Vermont Bird Mug Enjoy your favorite hot beverage in this 11 oz. ceramic mug emblazoned with your national bird and flag.

The Conception of the Massachusetts State Bird and Flower

Saturday, December 8th, 2012

Massachusetts is an Indian term that roughly translates to “great mountain-place”. Massachusetts is also named a commonwealth (as are Virginia, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania) in the state Constitution of 1780. In previous drafts, Massachusetts was referred to as the State of Massachusetts Bay, which John Adams kept in mind when writing up the state Constitution that would be finally acceptable to the people. Some speculate the he was reflecting some Anti-monarchy sentiments still harbored by the residents of the time. The independence felt to keenly then is still reflected in the Bay State motto “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.”

Even deciding which bird to choose to represent Massachusetts was a point of argument and is indicative of the fierce independence typical of the residents of this state. The State Federation of Women’s Club named the Veery Thrush in 1931 as their signature bird and drafted a bill to have the Verry as the state bird. The bill was vetoed. Ten years later on March 21, 1941 The Chickadee (Penthestes atricapillus) was officially designated as the state bird. The Black-capped Chickadee have a black crown of feathers as well as black chin and neck, white cheeks and brown everywhere else. it averages four to five inches in length with a tail that equals half the overall length of the bird. They like to nest near the ground in tiny caverns, preferably in trees that are rotting on the inside. This bird is also known as the dickybird, tomtit, and the titmouse.

The state flower is the Mayflower. It blooms April to May and is also known as trailing arbutus, a low growing evergreen plant that often goes unnoticed hidden by leaves and other ground cover that has a very sweet smelling pink and white flower. The Mayflower spreads very slowly due to not reseeding itself every year. The best growing conditions of this plant are acidic soil in rocky places. Adopted as the state flower in 1918, this flower has been on the endangered species list since 1925, and as such it is a federal crime to pick any that may be found growing wild.

Some interesting facts of this remarkable state include such things as Maine was once a part of Massachusetts (in 1820 Maine attained independent statehood), Harvard was the first college established in North America, was home to the inventor of the birth control pill, as well as the inventor of the first sewing machine.

Massachusetts License Plate

Proudly display your Home State’s Bird & Flower on your car camper or golf cart – 12′ x 6′ (standard license plate size)

Massachusetts State Bird Mug

Snowbird State Of Massachusetts Bird Mug Enjoy your favorite hot beverage in this 11 oz. ceramic mug emblazoned with your national bird and flag.

The Conception of the Minnesota State Bird and Flower

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012

The state of Minnesota has many lakes and harsh winters, and back in 1961 Minnesota decided that the bird to represent their state would be the loon. With many lakes in Minnesota the loon is quite at home, being able to swim and fly over the lakes and land.

Loons are big birds that fly throughout the sky with wide strong wings of almost five
feet. The wings need to be big and strong since the body of the loon can be as big as three feet. The loon flies to the greatest of heights and be able to see a fish in the lake and fly down to get the fish with precise accuracy.

With the Minnesota state bird being of a large size and weighing up to twelve pounds, it is very important for the loon to be able to support their weight in flight with large wings and a large strong neck and head usually of colors of black and white mixture. In many species of birds there is a difference in the appearance between the male and female. This is not so between the male and female loon, the only difference between them is that the male loon is a little bigger than the female loon. Both have big black beaks for hunting and fishing and red eyes.

The loon enjoys being around the lakes of Minnesota, it is only natural the loon will use the grass and twigs to build their nests when they reach the age of four. Once the male has picked out his mate the two will build their nest. The male protects the nest and mate from any predators. They usually just have one or two eggs in the large nest, for the baby loons to grow properly and leave the nest for their first flying lesson at the age of two months.

Minnesota state flower is the wild flower called the lady’s slipper. It is pink and white and is a small beautiful flower looking like a slipper that a lady would wear, thus giving it the name of the lady’s slipper. Even though the Minnesota state flower is a very pretty strong flower able to stand the harsh weather in Minnesota. The lady’s slipper is a rare flower in Minnesota due to the fact that it takes a considerable amount of time to grow this flower.

Minnesota Snowbird License Plate

Proudly display your Home State’s Bird & Flower on your car, camper or golf cart – 12

Minnesota State Bird Mug

Snowbird State Of Minnesota Bird Mug Enjoy your favorite hot beverage in this 11 oz. ceramic mug emblazoned with your national bird and flag.

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