turkey feathers

MICHIGAN: Apple Blossom

As I write, I'm looking out my window at the ornamental crab trees in my yard.  Their delicate blossoms have come and gone now with the last storm, but for awhile, with every little breeze, dozens of tiny white petals would drift like snowflakes, scattering in swirls across the lawn.  So pretty!

The mild, sweet fragrance of crab apple blossom, so similar to honeysuckle, attracts bees and keeps them busy, and toward summer's end hundreds of tiny apples, the size of cherries, will appear.  This fruit is largely ornamental, nice for wreath-making, but it can also be used in preserves and jellies--something I haven't quite got around to testing yet.  On their own crab apples taste quite sour.  I recall that surprising discovery long ago, biting into one when I was younger and still climbing trees. 

Although there are hundreds of varieties of apple trees today, I found it interesting that all of them  originated in Europe from a single, wild crab apple species: Pyrus coronaria (now referred to as 'Malus coronaria'), before being cultivated around the world. 

Since apples grow best in cool, northern climates, they became an ideal crop for the state of Michigan, where early settlers began propagating them in abundance.  Because of this reason, it must have seemed fitting to a Mr. William Harris of Norwood, to propose the adoption of the apple blossom as the best flower to represent the state. 

On February 9, 1897, that's just what he did.

Now, initially, as I understand it, the wild crab apple species was selected, but later it was found not to be a 'native'.  (Shocking news to some.)  Because of this fact, legislation didn't specify any particular botanical name, but only refers to the generic "apple blossom" instead. 

Without further ado or apparent incident, it was officially and wholeheartedly adopted as the state flower on April 28, 1897.

COLORS:  Most apple blossoms are white or pale shades of pink.  When it comes to stitching something you want to appear white on a white background choose pastels.  In some cases, black works.  But for flowers I don't think that's the best option, it may be too stark in comparison to the other flower blocks--unless you are already using a lot of black.  Here I used pinks--but yellow, lavender, soft violet, or gray blue, could be used to outline the petals and make them stand out.    

Block Size:   Images should be about 4 x 4-inches or so to fit a 6.5" block----re-size them if necessary. 

For additional guidance, you can print out the PDF color and stitch guide here:  

STATE FLOWER QUILT DIRECTIONS

 

Song of Spring

 

PENNSYLVANIA: Mountain Laurel

As the saying goes..."April showers bring May flowers"... and I bring you all yet another flower quilt block that falls in line perfectly with that thought.  Actual pictures of Mountain Laurel here, here, and here.

Between May and June, the native mountain-laurel blooms far and wide within the north and south eastern United States, with a frothy explosion of delicate pinkish white flower clusters.  This beautiful evergreen shrub grows naturally on rocky slopes and in woodlands, and in large thickets covering vast areas of forest floors.  In warm climates it can grow to the size of a tree, but remains shrub-like further north.  Its leathery leaves are lance-shaped, glossy and dark green, resembling those of its cousin the rhododendron, preferring a similar habitat, in cool, moist areas in full sun or deep shade. 

It's botanical name is Kalmia latifolia, and is a distant member of the heath family, which includes azaleas, rhododendron, huckleberry, blueberry, and the cranberry, just to name a few.  But as good as that sounds, take note that all particles and parts of this plant are poisonous.  It's highly toxic to humans and animals alike, with the exception being cats and dogs.  (Imagine that!)  The good news is, deer won't go near it either, making it a popular and lasting landscape companion. 

Some of us here can really appreciate that.

Mountain-laurel contains two substances in particular, andromedotoxin  and  arbutin, that if ingested can cause severe symptoms and suffering death within hours.  This may account for some of the other names it is know by such as, Sheep Laurel and Lambkill.  Other names include, Calico Bush, Ivy Bush, and Calmoun.  The native Indians called it "spoonwood" because they carved spoons from its wood.  Early American settlers also used the wood to make arbors, fences, and for a time, primitive clocks.

Its election as the official state flower of Pennsylvania was a lengthy one, taking years of deliberation by the legislation.  In 1931 a state tree was finally adopted, but the commonwealth was still lacking a flower so the Pennsylvanians began to gather their support for two choices; the pink azalea and the mountain-laurel.  

Both sides were vocal and adamant, causing the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, unable to reach an agreement, to defer the decision to the Governor of the State, Gifford Pinchot, who was a professionally trained forester and no stranger to flora and fauna. 

Well, the story goes, that Gov. Pinchot preferred the pink azalea, but that he allowed his wife to make the final decision.  And so, on May 5, 1933, the bill was signed into law and the Mountain-laurel (dubbed "ambition" in the language of the flowers), became the official flower of Pennsylvania.

COLORS:  petals #761; buds #899; flower centers WHITE; stems & leaves #702 and a lighter green.  (Do the embroidery using 3-4 strands of floss, in any colors you choose--these are the ones I used here.)

 Block Size:   Images should be about 4 x 4-inches or so to fit a 6.5" block; re-size them if necessary.

Springtime in the Valley

 
I have a funny story for you.  Weeks ago, during a dry sunny spell, I hiked to the top of the hill and took this picture.  (And voila!  With a few photo-shop tricks it's been instantly rendered as an impressionistic landscape.  So simple and fun.  Love that program.)   Since that extraordinary spring day though, we've had a lot more rain and cold weather.  The kind of rain that drives critters from their burrows and brambly hidy-holes to seek refuge elsewhere, acting on their natural need for survival. I understand that. 

I just wish it didn't have to be underneath my house, and that it didn't have to be a skunk.  But that's exactly what we woke up to last week: that indescribable stench that fills your nostrils and makes you want to faint. It didn't help to open the windows either, because the stink bomb had engulfed us.  We were laughing and crying at the same time.  One of those, it's funny--but NOT funny moments.  Presenting us with a conundrum.

So how does one delicately drive-out a skunk? 

Perhaps it was the lively high-stepping (in heavy boots) and lovely loud singing (off-key), and clanging pots and pans for emphasis, I can't be sure.  But it got the message; this space is occupied...or maybe it just couldn't get to sleep---being nocturnal---and went quietly, without further incident, for a more peaceful snooze elsewhere.   Far away from the crazy humans. 

Sometimes it's just that simple.  Thank goodness some things are.

ILLINOIS: Violet

Looking on the bright side, all this lovely *bonus weather* is providing some of us with additional opportunities for longer stitching sessions. And that's not such a bad thing.  Over here we have B&W film and retro-TV shows playing in the background.  Occasionally, I will leave my favorite chair for tea and chocolate, then I wander through the house checking up on things.  Laundry---yup, still there.  Etc.  But mostly, I'm curled up with my needle and thread during this [seemingly] never-ending storm.  I'm really super excited about this quilt though and want to see it through, so here's the latest quilt block, and one of my very favorite flowers. 

Researching this, I found out that after the 1893 Chicago World Exposition that sparked interest in the adoption of state flowers, the purple iris was one of the suggestions made to represent Illinois but was never officially adopted.  Apparently years went by, and then one very determined Mrs. James C. Fessler of Rochelle decided to launch a statewide campaign to get the job done, suggesting that it be put to a vote by the Illinois school children.  So they did!  Over 33,500 votes were cast for the three flowers that were chosen; goldenrod, wild rose, and the violet--which won by a wide margin over the other two. 

However, legislation failed to specify which type of violet--there were eight blue 'native' species alone at the time.  So they turned to the Illinois State Museum for help, and found the most common native species, Viola sororia, sometimes called the 'dooryard violet', and 'bird-foot violet', or just 'wood violet'.  The law was amended and went into effect July 1, 1908.  So now it's official.

Violets are so pretty.  Nursery rhymes and English literature is full of references to them.  Poets often use them to express the gentler qualities of life.  Shakespeare's violets are the flowers of vanishing youth; a warning to seize life before it's gone.  In the Victorian 'language of the flowers' manual, a true-blue violet means  faithfulness.  That seems quite fitting as they grow in abundance throughout the northern hemisphere with no help whatsoever.  They can be found in woodlands, fields, meadows, along roadsides, and often, by surprise, in backyard lawns.  Violets are adaptable and grow in full sun or shade, and bloom almost all spring and summer long.  Faithful and true they certainly are.

Another thing I love about them is that the flowers are edible.  I bet you already knew that.  But did you know that the flowers, roots, and stems of some varieties are rich in Vitamins A and C, (more C than even oranges pound for pound), and contain a type of antioxidant called anthocyanin, which is why it is sometimes called, "nature's vitamin pill."  Did you know that?  I admit, it was news to me.  The petals of the Illinois state flower in particular is such a variety, quite edible, and can be candied or crystallized with a coating of egg white (use a small paint brush), and sugar, as a way of preserving the blooms, to be used later as cake decorations.  Or very sweet and tasty vitamins.  How wonderful is that?

COLORS:  petals in two shades of blue #792, #3839; centers yellow; leaves medium green #702.

Next on the list, Pennsylvania's Mountain Laurel.  Are you keeping up? 

Check out Elizabeth's first flower block for Maine for inspiration. 

 
Block Size:   Images should be about 4 x 4-inches or thereabouts to fit a 6.5" block--so re-size them if necessary.