The apple blossom is the state flower of Arkansas, chosen in 1901 due to the state’s high apple production. It faced opposition due to religious concerns, but was ultimately selected. Arkansas was a major apple producer until disease and frost wiped out much of the crop. Today, the state still produces apples and celebrates its history through festivals. The flower is aesthetically pleasing and attracts bees, and the fruit is used for various purposes such as apple pie and jelly.
The state flower of Arkansas is the apple blossom. Also known as pyrus coronaria and American crab apple, the state officially adopted the flower in 1901. Arkansas chose the apple blossom as its state flower due to the high apple production that occurred in the early 20th century.
Initial opposition all but prevented the apple blossom from becoming the official state flower of Arkansas. Due to religious concerns that the fruit represented Adam and Eve’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden, passion flower nearly won out. Love Barton, a prominent socialite, made the case for the selection of the apple blossom. She wrote an article and submitted it to a major newspaper that highlighted the apple as a major cash crop in the state.
As the official state flower of Arkansas, the apple blossom represents the state’s rich agricultural history. Prior to 1927, Arkansas was a major contributor to American apple production. At the time of the flower’s adoption, Arkansas produced over 400 different types of apples. By 1927, fruit crop disease and several periods of extreme frost wiped out much of the state’s apple crop and farms.
Modern day Arkansas still produces a large volume of apples, though the volume is nowhere near its heyday. Lawmakers have chosen to keep the apple blossom as the state flower of Arkansas and celebrate its history through several local festivals. Several cities across the state celebrate the apple blossom by continuing to grow the fruit in small orchards. The city of Lincoln hosts an annual festival that pays tribute to the state’s history as one of the world’s premier apple producers.
Most of the state’s apple produce is shipped to grocery stores that offer fresh produce. Only 5% of the state’s crop is used by food producers for processing. As of 2003, Arkansas still had approximately 900 acres of active apple orchards.
The appearance of apple blossom is both aesthetically pleasing and delicate. The pink and white colored petals are one of the defining characteristics of the Arkansas state flower. In addition to the pink and white petals, the flower features green leaves that gather in clusters. The petals give off a pleasant scent reminiscent of a honeysuckle, which tends to attract an abundant supply of bees.
As the flower grows and matures, the fruit of the apple trees materializes. Some Arkansas residents like to pick and eat apples straight from the trees. In addition to the perennial favorites of apple pie and applesauce, the fruit is also used to make apple butter and jelly.
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