Dried apples were a staple for colonists and hard apple cider was a popular drink. The wood makes fine furniture and burns well in woodstoves and fireplaces. The rose, in all its variety and color, was made the State flower in 1955. Roses have been appreciated throughout the centuries and are considered one of the most popular and widely cultivated flowers in the world today, with over 150 species and more than 20,000 hybrids available. The apple muffin was created for the Bear Road Elementary School children in North Syracuse, who were instrumental in getting the Governor to sign a bill making it the official State muffin.
Many people provide special nesting boxes along fencerows for bluebirds.
They winter throughout the State. Click the sound icon to hear the state bird. To provide beaver pelts to European markets, fur traders settled in the early 1600's near our present capital at Albany - to trade with Indians. Adult beavers are three to four feet long and weigh 40 to 50 pounds. The wine-red garnet which is an eye appealing gem, as well as a prized industrial abrasive, is the State gem.