Bill Jeffery [IP-
63.68.241.32 ][IP- ]
On September 02, 2003 at 10:49:58:
Posted by Bill Jeffery on September 02, 2003 at 10:49:58:
My sentiments are that we should keep the bullthistle as the county flower. Beyond its widespread appearance along our roadsides and throughout the many pastures that dot our landscapes, its beautiful blossom, and its feathery seed "parasail", this plant possesses some of the same characteristics that make up the personality of the county and even of most of the residents of our fair county.
It is a plant that grows into a tall, proud display where other plants could not survive, are trampled underfoot or are devoured before they are able to reach maturity and fruition. Its prickly protective nature serves up a painful lesson for those that have not taken the time to learn the proper approach with which to handle it. Its roots go down deep into the rocky soil and supply a firm grasp on its source of sustenance and stability. This enables the bullthistle to survive the heat and drought of hard times, and ensures that it will not be easily displaced. And it couples the qualities of beauty, dependence on the elements and strong self-preservation.
The bull thistle also occupies a noble and interesting place in the history of Scotland, the native land of many of the ancestors of Chenango County residents. It is the flower of Scotland, chosed as such for this very reason. Tradition has it that during one of the many raids that the Norsemen carried out against the Scots, a bare-footed Dane stepped on one of these thorny plants while attempting an early morning sneak attack on a mist-shrouded village. His dry of pain alerted the villagers to the impending danger, and the attack was foiled. There is a Latin phrase attributed to the flower of Scotland that roughly translates as "None shall tread on me with impunity." I can think of no better flower to picture the characteristics of the county in which I have spent most of my life. Perhaps we should add the Latin phrase as our county motto rather than change the county flower?