Rooted in the Plains

Meadowlarks, Cottonwoods, Honey Bees, Oh My!

• Nicole Blackstock • Season 2 • Episode 1

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In this Season 2 premiere of Rooted in the Plains, we will explore how the Great Plains states chose their official symbols, flowers, birds, trees, and insects. From the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago to grassroots campaigns by women's clubs, discover the surprising stories behind these emblems of state identity.

Learn why five states chose the same bird, how Montana kids voted for their state tree 41 years before the legislature acted, and why Oklahoma has three different flower symbols. Through conversations and quiz questions, we uncover the women-led movement that gave our states their lasting symbols and what these choices reveal about shared identity across the Great Plains.

Want to see more? See historical photos of the Woman's Building, state symbols, and more glimpses of prairie life on Instagram: @rootedintheplains

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SPEAKER_00

Welcome to Rooted in the Plains, a podcast about the people, places, and moments that shape the Great Plains. I'm Nicole, and in each episode, I take you back to a time when sodhouses lined the prairie, railroads carved through the tall grass, and community meant survival. For photos, maps, and glimpses of Plains life, be sure to follow along on Instagram at Rooted in the Plains. Here we are, starting season two already. Why not start off with a little fun? I have a special guest in the studio with me, my daughter Katie.

SPEAKER_01

Hi.

SPEAKER_00

Aw, thanks everybody for making her feel welcome. So instead of my usual format, we're gonna take a peek into what almost any conversation between us sounds like.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, so like when you pick the topic of historical things, love it.

SPEAKER_00

Uh I mean, uh, love it. Do you know the state symbols and their origins? The stuff that nobody really talks about? Exactly. Wait, no, I mean, but okay, these symbols have some really cool stories, especially in the Great Plains. But before we start, I have three questions for you. Uh-oh. Don't worry, we're asking everyone who's listening to play along too. Ready? Sure. Okay, question one. Which state has three different official flower-related symbols? What? That's a lot for one state. Okay, question number two. How many of the eight Great Plains states do you think share the same state bird? Uh, maybe three.

SPEAKER_01

Like, are the states next to each other?

SPEAKER_00

Okay, you'll have to wait. And here's question number three. What insect is so popular that four of the Great Plains states have chosen it as their state insect?

SPEAKER_01

Hmm.

SPEAKER_00

Well, you've seen the Midwest in the summer. I don't know, mosquito? Ooh, really good guess. Keep those answers in your head. We'll reveal the answers as we go. So before we get into all of these state symbols, we need to talk about where this whole thing started. It goes back to 1893. 1893? That's pretty specific. Well, it is. That's when Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition. It's like a massive state fair, but for the world. Thousands of people would come every day to see new technology and ideas being shared. It was held from May 1st to October 31st. Just over 27 million people had attended.

SPEAKER_01

So, uh what's the World's Fair got to do with State Flowers?

SPEAKER_00

Okay, so for the first time, Congress authorized something called the Board of Lady Managers to oversee a woman's building at the fair. It was led by a Chicago woman named Bertha Honore Palmer. Okay, Bertha. Okay, but it was like a big deal. These were the first women to serve in an official capacity at a world's fair. They held a weeklong meeting where hundreds of women from around the world came together to debate important issues in front of thousands. One of those was the National Garland of Flowers. Sounds so fancy. Each state and territory was to select a flower to represent them. And then when the fair closed, women's clubs from around the country would take on the task of choosing and advocating that would represent their state's history, culture, and environment. Who runs the world? Girls! Yeah, they introduced the bills at state level, and then they got the school children involved in the selection process, which was a total grassroots movement. So you want a fun fact? Some states took decades to make it official.

SPEAKER_01

Which states were the first to do it? Like Illinois, right? Because that's like where the fair was.

SPEAKER_00

Well, actually, Washington beat everybody to it. They chose theirs the year before the fair. Of the Great Plains states, Montana and Nebraska both adopted their flowers just two years after the fair. And then what? It just spread from there? Yep. By the early 1900s, most states had flowers. And then something interesting happened. I'm intrigued. In the 1920s, the General Federation of Women's Clubs started this whole new campaign, this time for state birds.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so the famous women's club with the flowers went, let's add some birds. What then?

SPEAKER_00

Trees? Well, actually, yeah, that's what they did. They introduced state trees in the 30s and 40s, but then somewhere in the 40s, almost every state had a state bird. And then we added Alaska and Hawaii in 1959. And then they came up with these comprehensive packages of the city. Oh, okay, okay, okay. So we like created a brand guide for them. Welcome to the US. Here's your state flower, bird, tree, insect model. Yep, yep, yep. Well, then yeah, so that's what happened. And then they inspired other states to just keep adding categories. So fossils in the 60s, insects in the 70s, and then they just kept going. So drinks, soft drinks. Wait, what's Nebraska's state soft drink? I feel like I should know that. You do. You probably just don't think of it as a soft drink. Oh, okay. So on the count of three, one, two, three. Dorothy Lynch! Kool-Aid. Oh, okay, kid. Okay, so here's the thing. Even though some of it seems kind of silly, there's actually a good reason for them. They teach kids how the government works. Students propose an idea, it goes through a legislative process, and then suddenly they're learning about bills and committees and votes. So now that I've explained the boring backstory, I'll tell you about the symbols the states picked.

SPEAKER_01

Finally, are we starting with flowers?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, we're gonna go through them chronologically based on when they were adopted. Okay, so who was first? Okay, as I mentioned, Montana and Nebraska were actually tied in 1895. Montana chose the bitter root. It's this little plant with pink and white flowers that grows in rocky areas. I've heard its Latin name translates to brought back to life, as it can survive really harsh, dry conditions. It can look completely dead, and then when it gets moisture, it comes back to life. And Nebraska is I got this.

SPEAKER_01

Nebraska's a goldenrod. It's that bright yellow flower we have in our kitchen.

SPEAKER_00

Correct. Between July and October, it blooms across the state and provides a late season nectar for pollinators. Plus, indigenous people used it medicinally, so it's been important to the state for a long time. Next up is Texas in 1901 with blue bonnet. They were actually the first state to plant wildflowers along highways on purpose. For tourism? Yeah, actually, smart, right? Kansas adopted the sunflower in 1903. They can grow 16 feet tall and they track the sun across the sky. Color me shocked. Then South Dakota picked the Pasque flower. Also in 1903, it blooms through the snow and is the only state flower with a motto. Fun! What's its motto? I lead? Because it's the first to bloom. North Dakota chose the wild prairie rose in 1907, and Wyoming picked the Indian paintbrush in 1917. The paintbrush is parasitic. It attaches to other plant roots, so you can't cultivate it.

SPEAKER_01

Weird. I guess I didn't think of flowers as parasites.

SPEAKER_00

Right? So that's flowers.

SPEAKER_01

Let's move on to birds. Wait, I thought you said there were eight states. And didn't you ask me which state has three different flower symbols?

SPEAKER_00

Oh, right. Question number one. It's Oklahoma. This is where it gets interesting. They have three flower-related symbols. They have a floral emblem, a wildflower, and a state flower.

SPEAKER_01

That seems like a little much.

SPEAKER_00

Right. So in 1893, Oklahoma adopted the mistletoe as its floral emblem, which was 14 years before they became a state in 1907.

SPEAKER_01

Wait, wait, wait, wait. 1893. The World's Fair was in 1893, and then they became a state in 1907. So they picked their flower before they were a state. So did they get a second one when they became a state? And like, how did the third one even come up?

SPEAKER_00

Okay, slow, slow down. So they were a territory in 1893, but they were already establishing their identity. Then in 1986, they added the Indian blanket as their official wildflower. Not the same thing. Then in 2004, they added the Oklahoma rose as their official state flower. So they replaced the mistletoe. So they have two, not three. Not exactly. The mistletoe is their floral emblem. The Indian blanket is their official wildflower, not the same thing. And then the Oklahoma rose is their state flower. They just added a category.

SPEAKER_01

That's a lot of flowers.

SPEAKER_00

The Oklahoma rose is known for being tough. It can survive both droughts and cold. That says something. Okay, so that's the flowers. Now let's talk birds, which remember came from that General Federation of Women's Club campaign in the 20s.

SPEAKER_01

All right, hit me.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, but I want to mix this up. Starting with Texas in 1927, can you guess their state bird?

SPEAKER_01

Um, like, no offense, Texas, but is it something like big and loud, maybe like a turkey?

SPEAKER_00

Um, no, it's the northern mocking bird. They can sing up to 200 different songs, and they mimic other birds, insects, and even mechanical sounds. They're a little territorial too, and they'll swoop down at anything that gets too close to their nest. Hold on, did you say 200 songs? That's wild. Okay, South Dakota in 1943. Guess theirs.

SPEAKER_01

South Dakota. That is that the one above or below North Dakota? I don't know. Is it like a pheasant? It's like the bird, like the bird that you hunt.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, it's a ring-necked pheasant. Good guess. Pheasants aren't even native to South Dakota, they're from Asia. Two guys named Cooper and Ebert successfully introduced them to Spink County in 1908. And now they're everywhere.

SPEAKER_01

Wait, really? No, I was just guessing, but an imported state bird?

SPEAKER_00

Weird. Oklahoma, 1951. What do you think?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, okay. Since I'm on a roll and you just said 1951, Oklahoma has Route 66, Sonic, I don't know, like maybe a chicken?

SPEAKER_00

No, it's the scissor-tailed flycatcher. Right. Um, it's actually the first one we've mentioned that's unique to just one state. All of the others we'll talk about are shared. Wait, what? So here's where we answer quiz question number two. Remember, I asked you how many states share the same state bird? Well, the five other states, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska, all share the same state bird.

SPEAKER_01

All five have the same bird. So the other four are copying Nebraska with the Western Meadowlark.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, five out of the eight Great Plains states all chose the Western Meadowlark. We also share it with Oregon. It's very common with the Plains states. So between 1927 and 1947, all five states adopted it as their birds. All right, let's talk trees. But first, pop quiz for you. Wait, this isn't one of the questions from the beginning. How many of the eight states do you think picked the cottonwood as their state tree?

SPEAKER_01

Um, like, is it the same five as the metal or no, but close.

SPEAKER_00

Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming all pick the cottonwood. So three out of the five, and it makes sense. Cottonwoods grow along rivers and streams throughout the Great Plains. Settlers would collect cottonwood shoots and plant them along their claims. It's just part of history out here.

SPEAKER_01

Actually, correction. In fourth grade, we learned that the American elm was the state tree until they all started dying because of a tree disease called Dutch Elm Disease. But then they picked the cottonwood. But nice try.

SPEAKER_00

Okay. So Kansas adopted the cottonwood in 1937, Wyoming in 1947, and Nebraska, I guess, replaced the elm in 1972 with the cottonwood. Most states adopted trees in the 30s and 40s, but the cottonwood was already iconic here. There's some famous cottonwood landmarks. Okay, so what about the other states? Texas was actually the first in 1919 with the pecan tree. Fossil evidence shows pecan trees were in Texas long before humans even arrived. Hold on. Is that different than the pecan tree? No. These trees can live for thousands of years, and Texas is the global leader in pecan protection. Oklahoma adopted theirs in 1937, the red bud. It's important for early season pollinators, and indigenous tribes used it for food and medicine. So what about the Dakotas? They adopted theirs both in 1947. North Dakota with the American elm. These can grow up to 120 feet tall and can withstand temperatures as low as negative 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Uh negative 45? Yeah, no, thank you. Perfect for North Dakota, right? South Dakota chose the Black Hill spruce, which is a variety of white spruce that can live over 150 years. In Montana? Montana is my favorite story. In 1908, school children and Helena held the vote to pick the state tree. The Ponderosa Pine won easily. Great story. Let me finish, but the legislature didn't actually make it official until 1949. It took a campaign by the Montana Federal Gardens Club to finally get the legislature to act on what the kids had chosen decades before. Wait, that's crazy. Right? But the Ponderosa pine is pretty cool. It can grow over 150 feet tall. And here's the best part the bark smells like vanilla or butterscotch, especially on warm sunny days. The tree smells like a dessert. Basically, Lusa Clark even used the Ponderosa pines to build their dugout canoes. 30-foot-long canoes that could carry two to three tons. Last category, insects. They did not become popular as a state symbol until the 1970s.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, yay, bugs.

SPEAKER_00

And remember, quiz question number three. I asked, what insect is so popular that four Great Plains states picked it? Oh I had a good one. I had a good one. Mosquito. Good guess. But no, it's the honeybee. Oh, yep. Honeybees are crucial for pollinating crops, and honey production is a big industry in the Great Plains. South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma all chose the honeybee. So which state picked first? Nebraska. It was first in 1975, then Kansas in 76, South Dakota in 78, and Oklahoma in 1992. They all recognized how important bees are to agriculture, and South Dakota is actually the leader in honey production.

SPEAKER_01

What about the other states?

SPEAKER_00

Montana went with the morning cloak butterfly in 2001. And here's what's interesting. A lot of people were skeptical about this choice because the morning cloak isn't unique to Montana. You can find it all over the world. So people asked, why choose something that's not special to Montana?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, why?

SPEAKER_00

Because of what it represents. The morning cloak is often the first butterfly to emerge after winter, just like how Montanans are resilient after harsh winters. It was about symbolism. It got its name from the colors that resemble traditional morning cloaks that people wore after someone died. Dark wings with lighter edges.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so that's actually like really interesting. So what did Wyoming do?

SPEAKER_00

Wyoming picked Sheridan's green hair streak in 2009. It's another early spring butterfly. It's the first one to emerge in Wyoming, often while snow is still melting nearby.

SPEAKER_01

So the green hair streak isn't a fade?

SPEAKER_00

It's tiny, like less than an inch wingspan, but the bright green underside of the wings makes it really distinctive. North Dakota went with the convergent lady beetle in 2011.

SPEAKER_01

Aww a ladybug. That's cute.

SPEAKER_00

It was proposed by elementary students because ladybugs help farmers and gardeners by eating aphids, mites, and other pests. They're not harmful to humans or crops, and they're really important to North Dakota's ag industry.

SPEAKER_01

That makes sense. So what about Texas?

SPEAKER_00

Texas chose the Marnark butterfly in 1995.

SPEAKER_01

Some facts you just don't forget. They migrated from Mexico all the way to Canada and back twice a year, passing through Texas in the fall and spring. They're the only butterfly that does two-way migration, like birds.

SPEAKER_00

Pretty impressive for something so small. That covers all of our symbols. Flowers, birds, trees, and insects for all of the Great Plains states.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, before we go, I do have some thoughts. I have entered quite the rabbit hole. Bertha, the one we talked about in the beginning, who helped lead the push behind state symbols, had one of the most unhinged resumes of the Gilded Age. Yes, she was married to a Chicago millionaire, Potter Palmer. I don't know, he's he's the guy who started Marshall Fields and then it turned into Macy's. But that is just the entry point. The Brownie was literally created at the Palmer House under her direction for the World's Fair. She also owned one of the largest collections of Monet paintings in the world at the time, and personally helped introduce impressionist art to the United States. Oh, and her sister, married to the son of Ulysses S. Grant, in the philanthropy, equally as unhinged, Bertha personally donated millions of dollars to charities, schools, cultural institutions, and women's causes at the turn of the 20th century, at a time when women couldn't even vote. They estimate that she put her lifetime giving of over $2 million, which roughly equals 65 to 7 million today. So when Bertha helped shape state symbols, she wasn't just picking pretty little emblems. She was using money, power, and cultural influence to decipher whose stories would be preserved.

SPEAKER_00

Those were some great final thoughts. Thank you! Here in the Great Plains, we share an ecosystem, a history, and a stubborn resilience that shows up in everything from cottonwoods to metal arcs. They're proof that some of the roots run deeper than borders. Thanks for listening to Rooted in the Plains. I hope you learned something new today. For photos, maps, and a little glimpse of prairie life, visit the Instagram page Rooted in the Plains. And if you enjoyed the episode and want to dig a little deeper, check out the show notes for additional readings and a full list of sources used in this episode. Thanks!

SPEAKER_01

Bye!