Did You Know? Kentucky State Flag, Motto & Flower

Why does it say Commonwealth of Kentucky, not State of Kentucky?
Please refer to FAQs.

Who are those two people?
A pioneer and a statesman, who represent all the people of Kentucky.

What are they saying to each other?
"Hello, friend! United We Stand, Divided We Fall" (Kentucky's State Motto, minus the "Hello, friend" part).

What are those yellow, scraggly weeds at the bottom?
Kentucky's State Flower, the goldenrod, which is native to the state.

Spring is in the air - and so are the birds

For the last two days, we've had a touch of spring in Kentucky. With temperatures in the mid to upper 60s over the weekend, even the birds came out to play, singing their songs of happiness to welcome in spring.

Shelby & I missed most of this weather because we were visiting his grandmother in the arctic of Michigan. Driving back on Sunday, we experienced a foot of snow on the ground at our departure, and sunny and 70 when we arrived back home. We didn't miss the birds, however. Shelby's grandmother loves cardinals, and judging from all of her cardinal decorations, I assumed it was the state bird of Michigan, like Virginia and Kentucky.

It turns out that it is not the state bird of Michigan, but just a bird Shelby's grandmother likes. Nevertheless, the birds in her house reminded me of both of my home states, past and present, and I hope to hear their songs more and more as hibernation comes to an end! Hooray!

Did You Know? Kentucky State Picnic Food

In an effort to honor Kentucky's own Colonel Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken, legislation has been proposed to make KFC's fried chicken the Official Picnic Food of Kentucky.  Sounds legitimate and reasonable - no harm, no "fowl," right?

Not according to PETA, who is completely against the tribute due to the accusation that KFC abuses and tortures chickens.  The spokeswoman for KFC, however, thinks everyone can easily support the legislation:  "Whether left wing or right wing, we think [the bill] is something both sides can agree on" (emphasis added).

Chicken dance, anyone?

Did You Know? Kentucky State Capital

Frankfort is the Kentucky State Capital. Located between Lexington and Louisville, Frankfort is smaller than both cities. Lexington was first the temporary capital, but Frankfort officially took over in 1792, the same year Kentucky became a state. Here you can find Daniel Boone's grave, which might be interesting (?), and the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which is definitely worth a look.

Did You Know? Louisville's Name

Louisville shares its name with eight other towns/cities in the U.S.

Louisville, Alabama
Louisville, Colorado
Louisville, Georgia
Louisville, Illinois
Louisville, Mississippi
Louisville, Nebraska
Louisville, Ohio
Louisville, Tennessee

The Kentucky difference? Ours is the only one that has a silent "s," named in honor of French King Louis XVI.

Did You Know? Kentucky State Tree

Kentucky's state tree is the Tulip Tree (aka the Tulip Poplar). It is actually a member of the magnolia family, despite its "poplar" name. It can grow up to 145 feet and live for 200 years. Its yellow-green flowers, which blossom in May, resemble tulips, giving the tree its name.

My dad, the tree expert, called the Tulip Poplar the "Weed of the Piedmont." I guess when you're not in the Piedmont, it's a little more "pop(u)lar!"