It’s a small inconvenience, in the large scheme of things, but it is one more little reason in our growing long list of reasons to elect a progressive President in 2008: Officially designated state flowers and state trees are likely to leave their home states and shift to different habitats as a result of climate change. As some areas get wetter, others get more dry, and most places in the United States get warmer in the years to come, many plants will no longer grow in their traditional ranges, and will shift to new ranges or wither away.
For example, in Delaware, both the state flower (the peach blossom), and the state tree (the American holly), are likely to have a lot of trouble growing in the future. That’s the conclusion of a 50-state review by the National Wildlife Federation. The review found that, while some state flowers and trees will be able to stay put, many are likely to move out of their sponsor states altogether, if global warming heats up as expected.
30 states could lose their state flower or state tree, or both. It took state legislatures long enough to pick state flowers and state trees in the first place. They shouldn’t have to do it again. Electing a progressive President in 2008 will help prevent this embarrassing problem from taking place by instituting policies that can slow down climate change, and maybe, eventually, bring temperatures back to normal.
(Source: National Wildlife Federation, Gardener’s Guide to Global Warming, 2007)
