Most of the earliest apple trees in northern Arkansas were reportedly planted by the legendary Johnny Appleseed. Arkansas became a major apple-producing state. Later, Mrs. Ed Barton of Searcy, Arkansas, decided the apple blossom ought to be Arkansas’ state flower.
Other people wanted to adopt the honeysuckle. The Federation of Women’s Clubs championed the passion flower. To make matters worse, Michigan had just adopted the apple blossom. Would residents want to adopt an official flower already recognized by another state?
But Mrs. Search campaigned long and hard. On January 30, 1901, the apple blossom was adopted as Arkansas’ state flower.
Arkansas is no longer a major apple-producing state. However, there is an annual Arkansas Apple Festival in the town of Lincoln.
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - Paperback
