Adoption Of Arkansas State Floral Emblem

After what has been referred to as the “battle of the blooms,” the apple blossom was adopted as the State floral emblem of Arkansas by an act of the Legislature on July 30, 1901. The legislation read, in part,

“Whereas, Most of the states have by resolution declared what should be their state floral emblem; and,

“Whereas, Arkansas has not by resolution of the General Assembly declared what is her floral emblem; be it therefore

“Resolved by both Houses of the General Assembly, That the ‘Apple Blossom’ be declared the state floral emblem of Arkansas.”

The “battle of the blooms” was between the Floral Emblem Society and the Arkansas Federation of Women’s Clubs. The Floral Emblem Society supported the apple blossom and the Arkansas Federation of Women’s Clubs supported the passion flower. Mrs. Ed Barton of Searcy, local president of the Floral Emblem Society, is singled out for an extraordinary effort credited with winning the State floral emblem honor for the apple blossom.

Mrs. Barton wrote personal letters to 500 prominent citizens including every state legislator. With these letters, she included a promotional pamphlet extolling the virtues of the apple blossom and referring to the passion flower as “a pretty but rank and disagreeable weed, which isn’t a native of Arkansas at all but will grow anywhere the farmer’s hoe will let it.”

On the day that the legislature was to vote, Mrs. Barton appeared at the Capitol in a red dress and a crisp red Arkansas apple for each legislator. She also handed them a note that read,

“These are the results of our beautiful apple blossoms, but what is the results of a passion flower? A dried shriveled pod!”

The Arkansas Code (Non annotated)

The following information is excerpted from the Arkansas Code (Non annotated), Title 1, Chapter 2, Section 1-4-109.

TITLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

CHAPTER 4. STATE SYMBOLS, MOTTO, ETC. SECTION 1-4-109. 1-4-109. State flower. The apple blossom is declared to be the state floral emblem of Arkansas.

History. Senate Concurrent Resolution, No. 1, Acts 1901, p. 408; A.S.A. 1947, § 5-109.

The apple blossom was adopted as the Arkansas State Flower by the General Assembly of 1901. Apple blossoms have pink and white petals and green leaves.

COURTESY PHOTO Miss Apple Harvest Pageant was held Sept. 13 at the high school auditorium. Winners of the pageant include Megan McAffee as 2014 Miss Apple Harvest queen. Other royalty included Micayla Hendricks, Teen Miss Harvest; Falyn Coreiro, Princess Apple...