Originally Posted by
Favorite Fabrics
Fabri-Quilt is coming out with a (small) line of state flower fabrics. Here's a link:
http://www.checkerdist.com/products/...f_v=P100&f_a=1
I'm not sure about the Oklahoma flower, "Indian Blankets" (gaillardia). I've looked it up on the web and the info I've found suggests that mistletoe is the official state flower, and Indian Blankets are the official state wildflower.
I didn't realize that a state could have two types of official flowers.
Could anyone from Oklahoma shed some light on this?
I must admit... Indian Blankets are a whole lot more showy than mistletoe!
This is WHY the Oklahoma State Flower used to be Mistletoe, but was changed to Gillardia (spelling?) or common name Indian Blanket (not Indian Paint Brush). The original State 'flower' Mistletoe is of course not a true flower, but is an actual parasite. This seems an odd choice...but there was a very meaningful reason behind the choice. Where settlers moved into this arid land there were so very many deaths that winter. And of course there were no true flowers to place upon their graves. The only semblance for anything to be found was mistletoe in those frigid months. There were folks living in dug-outs, etc. with little protection from the elements. It was a very painful time for many families.
But times changed, and history is often forgotten. Whether it is agreed upon by every Oklahoma citizen or not, the Officially recognized State Flower was changed to the beautiful Indian Blanket... I hope this helps folks to understand.