The beautiful, enormous Rhodi

"I invite you to accompany me on a journey back in time to the year 1892, before women even had the right to vote. Delegates from each state had been invited to attend the 1893 World's Fair which was to be held in Chicago. It was suggested that each state decorate their booths with their official flower, if they had one.

Since Washington had not yet selected an official flower, voting booths were set up throughout the state. (I found it very interesting that this election was open to women only, since they were not allowed to vote in other elections.) Some flowers that were suggested included the dogwood, syringa, gaillardia, Washington holly, wild rose, and marguerite. Residents of Spokane, Washington supported the stylized lily (fleur-de-lis). The clover was suggested by Mrs. Ella Higginson, who lived in Bellingham and was the poet laureate of Washington at that time. However, it was Mrs. Alsora Hayner Fry who lauded the Coast Rhododendron. Her love for its outstanding floral beauty as well as its
evergreen leaves led her to nominate it (in writing) to the editor of a newspaper.

Following the distribution of the ballots and completion of the voting process, 53% of the 15,000 women who voted favored the "coast rhododendron." Thus, the new floral emblem for Washington state was confirmed on February 10, 1893. Fifty-six years later on February 10, 1949, it was made official by the state legislature. In 1959, that law was amended to define the "native pink rhododendron" (R. macrophyllum) as the official floral emblem of Washington state.

According to information found in the Sunset Western Garden Book (Copyright 1995, Sixth Edition), the Coast Rhododendron (western rhododendron) is native near the Pacific coast from Northern California to British Columbia. Its foliage is dark green and leathery, having leaves ranging from two and a half to six inches long. Its flower trusses are rosy to rosy purple in color and very rarely they can be white. This species blooms annually from May through June, presenting a spectacular sight to those privileged to see them in the wild.

The Coast Rhododendron is rarely sold in nurseries or garden centers. Although it grows profusely in coastal areas, it can only be legally collected by first obtaining a special permit. Therefore, be forewarned. If you should be hiking or driving along the beautiful Pacific coast and happen upon a spectacular grove of pink native rhododendrons, DO NOT dig them up, as they are protected by law for a very valid reason. They are Washington State's "official flower!""

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