Symbols, text Symbols, text and imagery were chosen because of their uniqueness to New York. The rose, created in glass and climbing upward through the frame of the arbor was chosen to be the state flower in 1955
The blue bird, carved in one of the circular panels, was adopted as the New York State bird in 1970. The ladybug, apple and maple leaves are other New York State symbols and are carved on glass circular panels. Creating a variety of flowers in addition to the rose is meant to show shared human values.
