Rhodie...WA state flower. Here's the one's I've seen!

These flowers are about done for the season. They are so pretty!

Conceived as a way to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyages to the "new world," the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago provided the venue for a unique trend that continues to this day, the designation of symbols and emblems as defining characteristics of each state. It was the Women's Congress that came up with the idea of a "National Garland of Flowers" at the fair comprised of a representative flower from each state.

Washington poet laureate Ella Higginson of Bellingham suggested that the clover would be ideal. Alsora Hayner Fry was a fan of the coast rhododendron and nominated it in Washington newspapers. In Spokane, some women thought that the symbolism of the stylized iris known as the fleur-de-lis (French: flower of the lily) would serve the state well and The Spokane Times concurred. Two flowers emerged to contend for the title, perhaps because of their champions. The clover and rhododendron, or "rhodie," were to go head to head in the statewide voting only open to women.
The Washington Senate took action and approved Mrs. Fry's coast rhododendron as the official state flower on February 10, 1893, in time for the Exposition's opening on May 1st.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts of 1931, names the rhododendron as Washington's state flower selected by the people. But only one half of the Washington Legislature actually approved the rhododendron the represent the state.
Sixty-six years later to the day, on February 10, 1949, the rhododendron (Rhododendron Californicum) was approved by both houses as the official flower of Washington.