Beech Tree News Network

I have a bone to pick with the members of the 1926 Kentucky General Assembly.  According to nkytribune.com, it was that gathering of elected officials who decided the Goldenrod would be an excellent choice for our state flower.  Of course, the Kentucky Federation of Women’s Clubs had been pushing for the Goldenrod way back in 1921, so more than likely, the General Assembly just buckled under the pressure.

The story goes that Benjamin Franklin thought the wild turkey should be the US national bird.  Thankfully, the voice of reason overrode his opinion, and we have the majestic Bald Eagle as our representative of these United States (history.com).  My question is this: Where was that voice of reason in Kentucky at the 1926 General Assembly.

We basically have a weed as a state flower, and yes, I know that many flowers we cultivate today started out as weeds, but I don’t see anybody cultivating Goldenrod—or Ragweed or Milkweed, as far as that goes. 

When I look at Goldenrod, I think allergies, of which I have more than a few.  According to Dr. Beth A. Miller, Allergy and Sinus Clinics director at the University of Kentucky, however, Goldenrod is not an allergenic plant, because it is bee pollinated.  It is the wind pollinated plants, like Ragweed, that give us all the grief of ailments like hay fever (nkytribune.com).

Back in 1930, the US Army Militia in each state was assigned a “floral insignia” to represent its federal militia.  California was assigned the Goldenrod and Kentucky the Trumpet flower.  That wouldn’t have been my second choice, but at least, with the word “flower,” we were headed in the right direction.  Again, the voice of reason was missing in the town of Frankfort, and Kentucky stood firm in its insistence that the Goldenrod should represent our great state (nkytribune.com).

To California’s credit, they decided to ditch the Goldenrod and go with the California Poppy, a stunning, bright orange beauty (statesymbolsusa.org).  The Goldenrod was also Alabama’s state flower until 60 years ago, when it was rejected for the Camellia, a large, bright crimson flower, with deep-veined rounded petals.  It grows wild and can be cultivated, as well (thisisalabama.org).  Nebraska and Kentucky are the only states left with the Goldenrod as state flowers.

Kentucky’s bordering states have beautiful floral representatives.  Ohio has the Carnation; Indiana, the Peony; Illinois, the blue Violet; Tennessee, the Iris; and West Virginia, the Rhododendron.  Missouri and Virginia chose flowers from trees: Missouri, the white Hawthorne, and Virginia, the Dogwood (statesymbolsusa.org). I know I’m teetering on the edge of breaking the “Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighboring State’s State Flower” commandment, but having a weed for a state flower can push one to the brink.

A few years back, Kentucky changed its slogan, “The Bluegrass State,” to the current, “Unbridled Spirit.”  I propose it’s time to choose a new state flower.  Since the flower has to be native to Kentucky, the following is a short list of what might be considered: the Meadow Rose, purple Coneflower, wild Columbine, scarlet Bee Balm, wild Aster, and my personal favorite, wild Passionflower—the flower of the Maypop vine.

Changing the state flower would literally take an act of congress, and I know there are bigger fish to fry, especially with all that’s going on in the world today, but I think it should eventually be considered.  Hopefully, this time, there will be a voice of reason present, and we don’t end up with the Ragweed.