Pink Petaled Flowers Closeup Photo. Photo by Brett Sayles. Pexels

Delaware State Bird & Flower :10 Things you need To Know


 

States like Delaware and many others started adopting some of their own official state symbols many years ago—in some cases, more than a century ago.

A state can designate its own animals, birds, flowers, amphibians, dances, drinks, nicknames, state seals, and much more as its official symbols.

In appreciation of peach tree orchards producing a crop worth millions of dollars at the time, the peach bloom was formally selected as the Delaware state flower on May 9, 1895.

After appearing in numerous political campaigns and publications, the blue hen was also formally declared the state bird on April 14, 1939 by Delaware state.

The 10 things you need to know about Delaware State bird and flower include the following.

1. Delaware Chose the Delaware Blue Hen as The State Bird in 1939

Blue Hen. Photo by Костюшко. Wikimedia Commons

Delaware is the 45th most populous state in the United States and the second smallest state by area.

The state’s terrain mainly consists of many forests and forested plains that attract different animals and different types of birds.

In 1939, the Delaware Blue Hen (Gallus gallus) was designated as the state bird of Delaware.

The fact that the bird had previously been chosen as the University of Delaware’s mascot in 1911 shows how beloved the state’s citizens already were of it.

The Blue Hen Chicken is another name for the Delaware Blue Hen.

To read more about Delaware and its state bird click here

2. The Peach Blossom Was Adopted as The State Flower on May 9, 1895

Peach Blossom . Photo by jammmick. Wikimedia Commons

Due to the state’s well-established and expanding image as the “Peach State,” the iconic peach blossom was chosen as Delaware’s state flower and was first recognized in 1895.

There were more than 800,000 peach trees in Delaware’s orchards at this time. It’s no surprise that the state’s reputation of being a “Peach State” was that strong.

Delaware’s status as the “Peach State,” where at the time her orchards produced a crop worth thousands of dollars also played a role in the decision.

3. Delaware State Flower Has Many Uses and Meanings in Different Cultures

Peach trees are closely associated with vitality because of their early spring blossoming time.

According to Chinese tradition, wood from peach trees is said to ward off evil spirits.

In Korea, peaches were a representation of happiness, honor, wealth, and longevity. In Japan, peach branches were employed as divination instruments.

In Vietnam, peach flowers are a representation of victory, spring, peace, and joy. These blossoms were a fertility and giving emblem for the Victorians.

The height of peach trees can reach 25 feet and they grow swiftly.

Peach tree flowers can be used as a decoration, an ingredient in salads, or a beverage by boiling them into tea and are also tasty.

It is possible to leave peach blossom trees alone because they are hardy and can withstand moderate drought conditions well.

Peach trees also offer a variety of medical advantages.

Traditional Chinese medicine use peach stones as anti-inflammatories, to treat allergies, and to improve circulation and blood flow.

4. During the Revolutionary War Delaware Soldiers Were Compared to Fighting Cocks

Revolutionary War Collage. Photo by Eugène Lami. Wikimedia Commons

Game hens, purportedly from a brood of a famed Blue Hen, were brought along by the Delaware soldiers of Captain John Caldwell’s command.

When not engaged in combat, the officers and soldiers entertained themselves by engaging in cockfights with their Blue Hen chickens.

As word of these cockfights circulated throughout the army, the brave fighting of the Delaware soldiers led to comparisons to these fighting cocks.

5. The Blue Hen Is Not an Officially Recognized Bird Breed

Delaware State Fair. Photo by Lee Cannon from Bayville aka West Fenwick, DE, USA. Wikimedia Commons

The Blue Hen chicken has been a recurring symbol in various political campaigns and publications in Delaware before it was officially recognized on April 14, 1939.

These “blue chickens,” however, are not a breed of bird that is recognized by the government, despite their widespread use and notoriety.

The “steel-blue” feather colour of the blue hens—many of which eventually took on a darker black coloration—led to their breeding and naming for a number of years.

The Delaware Blue Hen has a black throat and neck and is primarily blue in color. This species’ rooster has jowls and a red mohawk.

The rooster appears bright blue, while the females’ feathers take on a more gray-blue hue. Blue, black, and splash are the three color variations that are available for chicks.

6. Delaware’s State Bird Pays Homage to the History of the State

CPT John Cadwell. Photo by James F. Gibson, Civil War photographer. Wikimedia Commons

The official bird of Delaware pays respect to the state’s Revolutionary War-era past.

The term “The Blue Hen’s Chickens” or “Sons of the Blue Hen” was given to a group of brave soldiers during the war who were originally from Delaware.

The troops’ moniker came from the fighting progeny of a particular hen that their then-Captain John Caldwell kept as a pet.

That particular hen was renowned for triumphing in their cockfights, or battles between roosters.

7. Cockfighting Attracts A 3-Year Jail Term Currently in Delaware State

It true that cockfighting made the “Blue Hen” popular during the revolutionary war as it entertained soldiers when not in combat.

Unfortunately cockfighting cannot be used to entertain soldiers throughout the state and even beyond currently.

Cockfighting is now considered a serious crime on both at state and federal level thanks to the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, which has become a federal statute.

Cockfighting is prohibited by law and can result in up to three years in prison for anyone found guilty. This rule went into effect in 2007.

8. There Are Very Few Peach Blossoms in Delaware Today

Peach blossoms were visible in 1875 along Delaware’s stunning coastline.

In the later part of the 19th century, peach farmers unfortunately experienced significant problems.

Early in the 1900s, many peach producers faced bankruptcy as a result of the peach disease known as “the yellows,” which precipitated the untimely fall of the burgeoning agricultural sector.

Even though the United States continues to be the world’s top producer of peaches, there aren’t many peach blossoms left in Delaware today.

9. The Peach Blossom Was Officially Designated as The State Flower in 1932

Legislation sponsored by New Castle County Senator John Martin Du Pont in 1931 and overwhelmingly adopted on March 11, 1932 made the peach blossom the official state flower of Delaware.

Additionally, both houses of the Delaware legislature jointly voted in 1953 to designate the peach blossom as the state flower of the state.

10. The Beauty and Fragrance Nature of The Flower Made It to Be Chosen

It was decided to utilize a peach blossom as a symbol for “nature’s beauty and aroma.”

Five petals, three on the left side and two on the right, make up the solitary, white flower. The leaves are paired and green.

They have a little leaf affixed to either side and are heart-shaped.

Delaware is home to several gardens where this flower is grown in addition to being present in the wild there.

Depending on the kind, peach blooms can have a range of colors.

Most peach flowers have light pink petals with brilliant magenta or hot pink flushes close to the core.

A flower has five edges on each of its petals. They are around 2-3 centimeters in diameter.

Peach blossoms have a delicate, velvety texture and an aroma that is sweet like honey and almonds. A delicate, nectar-like sweetness can be found in peach flowers.