Cat Playing with Goldenrod Photographic Print

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I‘m one of those people who’s obsessed with all animals and birds: cats, polar bears, dogs, bison, moose, ducks, possum, raccoons, robins, hummingbirds, butterflies, dolphins, whales, stingrays, pelicans, herons, foxes, wolves…yep, love wolves.. etc. If it has fur and feathers, it melts my heart. A few without fur and feathers do the same – dolphins, whales, and stingrays get a pass to the heart even though they haven’t either.

So, this morning I was outside throwing bread crumbs and sunflower seeds to the birds and I started thinking about the birds (and butterflies) who are migrating south. I read a few days ago, in a column in the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, about butterlies making their way to the warmer climates. The columnist (Tom Ford) wrote:

It seems the Lord has prepared for this trip by causing many plants to begin flowering at this time. We usually think of spring as the time flowers are most colorful, but stop and think for a moment. Have you noticed the robin egg blue that decorates many open fields? It is the flower known as mistflower (Eupatortium coelsestinum) Locally, it is better known simply as Ageratum.

An even more beautiful and useful flower is Kentucky’s state flower. Most schoolchildren know our floral symbol, but very few realize that within our state, 31 species may be found.

He, of course, was talking about goldenrod – and I had absolutely no idea that 31 species of goldenrod even existed. I love flowers and herbs almost as much as animals, and thought I’d done my homework, but I never knew there were that many.  I’ve always loved goldenrod.  When it covers a field, it looks just like a bright beautiful afghan or blanket spread out.

At any rate, I found that pretty fascinating, so I thought I’d round up a slew of other cool facts about our state symbols. After all, knowledge isn’t only “Power,” as they say – it’s fun!

Kentucky’s State Flower: The Goldenrod

• It’s hard to imagine that the Goldenrod wasn’t always our state flower, but before the goldenrod, there was bluegrass. 
•  The trumpet vine was assigned by the United States War Department as the official symbol for the Kentucky militia.
• The Goldenrod found a publicity team in 1921 in the form of the Kentucky Federation of Women’s Clubs.  They argued that Goldenrod grew all over the state and that it was even put on the state flag in 1918.
• In the late 40s and early 50s the goldenrod’s distinction as state flower was threatened by the dogwood blossom and the redbud. The redbud was actually approved in the House but defeated in the Senate in 1953!
• Goldenrod does not cause hay fever.  Those of us who suffer from pollen allergies have ragweed to thank for that.
• Bees use the goldenrod’s nectar to make an autumn honey.

The Kentucky State Flag

• Our original state flag is preserved in Frankfort in the Kentucky History Museum.
• The Kentucky state flag is apparently longer than other state flags.

The Kentucky State Bird: Cardinal

• The Kentucky cardinal was officially selected as the state bird of Kentucky on February 26, 1926. This beautiful bird was given the honor because it is a Kentucky native.



• Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia have also named the cardinal as their state bird.  Kentucky was the first to do so (1926), followed by Illinois in 1929.
• The Cardinal is the most popular state bird (with 7 states), followed closely by the Western Meadowlark, with 6 states listing it as their state bird (Kansas, Oregon, North Dakota, Nebraska,  Montana, and Wyoming.)

State Song – My Old Kentucky Home

• “My Old Kentucky Home,” was written by Stephen Foster (words and music)

• It was adopted by the Kentucky Legislature as the Kentucky state song on March 19, 1928.

• In March, 1986, Representative Carl Hines (a Democrat from Louisville, who happened to be the only black member of the House, pointed out that the lyrics “convey connotations of racial descrimination that are not acceptable.”  He sponsored a bill that sought to change ‘Tis summer the darkies are gay to ‘Tis summer, the people are gay.”  The House, fortunately, passed the bill and our state song became one every Kentuckian can be proud of.

• My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown, Kentucky is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places you could ever hope to visit (the town also boasts a spectacular Golden Corral!).  If you’ve never attended the Stephen Foster Story, you should do that as soon as you possibly can.  As soon as I get my eyes and hands on their 2009 schedule, I’ll plaster it all over the website. The show runs in the summer months because it’s an outdoor production. I can’t say enough about the show they put on – the costumes, the singing, the dancing – it’s beyond gorgeous.

From Stephen Foster.com:

Breathtaking costumes, lively dance & the timeless music of America’s 1st great composer.

Nestled in My Old Kentucky Home State Park, where music fills the night air, go back in time to the 1850’s. Experience the sights and sounds of an era when America’s first great composer wrote timeless classics like “Oh! Susanna,” “Camptown Races,” “Beautiful Dreamer” and “My Old Kentucky Home.”

We invite you and your family for an evening to remember outdoors on the grounds of the beautiful My Old Kentucky Home State Park, in our beautiful state-of-the-art amphitheatre.

A few more interesting State Symbols:
State Wild Animal Game Species – the gray squirrel
State Horse – Thoroughbred
State Fish – Kentucky Spotted Bass
State Rock – Kentucky Agate
State Music – Bluegrass Music
State Drink – Milk

Milk??? Not coffee? Are you serious? Kentucky, sigh, I don’t even know you anymore.