April Showers Bring Mayflowers

Throughout the rainy weekend, as we moped around the house, looking forlornly at our bicycle and wishing for a break in the weather, we kept reminding ourselves that April showers bring May flowers. Ordinarily, Bostonist would not pretend to edify our readers on matters botanical: we know that the white-flowered tree in our back yard is a dogwood, we are pretty sure we know what tulips look like, and that is all. But since yesterday was May 1 and our city really is bursting into bloom everywhere, we will tell you that the official flower of Massachusetts is the mayflower (also known as the trailing arbutus).

It was 87 years ago, on May 1, 1918, that our state's legislature designated the mayflower as the official "flower or floral emblem" of the Commonwealth. (We also have an official "dessert or dessert emblem" - Boston cream pie, and an official cookie - chocolate chip.) Despite diligent research, Bostonist was not able to determine whether the mayflower was chosen for its beauty or because of the famous boat that shares its name (after all, the legislature has taken the time to designate Plymouth Rock as the official historic rock of the Commonwealth). We did learn, however, that if you are in some way displeased with the state of Massachusetts, you should not express your displeasure through acts of violence against its state flower: in March of 1925, the legislature wisely made it a crime to pull up, dig up, or injure any part of a mayflower plant located on public property, except to pick its flowers. The law is still on the books, so would-be mayflower-defilers should take notice: you could face a fine of up to $50, or up to $100 dollars if you do the heinous crime "while in disguise or secretly in the nighttime."

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