18/01/2024
It is okay that you didn't ask - but why Yes! We do have a California State - Reptile, Flower, Amphibian - California Red-Legged Frog - (take that Mark Twain), Fish, Lichen, Grass, Animal - Grizzly Bear, Bird - California quail, Dance - West Coast Swing, Fabric - Gold Rush era Denim,
Betcha didn't know we also have a state Gem - Blue Diamond aka Benitoite., butterfly, and yes, a state Dinosaur - Augustynolophus, and Fossil - The Saber-Toothed cat.
We also now have a new state Mushroom - golden chanterelle, and Bat - Pallid bat - my what big ears you have! Our state sport is Surfing, and wouldn't you know it - a state mineral - gold, and two state trees - Redwood - Sequoia and giant Sequoia.
If 38,965,193 nuts (population) isn't enough for you - we have 4 official state nuts - almond, walnut, pistachio, and the pecan, Serpentine is our official state rock - and lastly, our official California State Song - “I Love You, California".
California’s official state song is “I Love You, California,” written by F.B. Silverwood, a Los Angeles merchant. The words were subsequently put to music by Alfred Frankenstein, a former conductor of the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra.
It was the official song of expositions held in San Francisco and San Diego in 1915, and was played aboard the first ship to go through the Panama Canal. In 1951, the State Legislature passed a resolution designating it as California’s state song.
During the years following, several attempts were made to make other songs such as “California, Here I Come” the official state song. Finally, in 1988, “I Love You, California” became the official state song by law.
I Love You, California
I.
I love you, California, you’re the greatest state of all.
I love you in the winter, summer, spring and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore.
I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.
Chorus
Where the snow crowned Golden Sierras
Keep their watch o’er the valleys bloom,
It is there I would be in our land by the sea,
Every breeze bearing rich perfume.
It is here nature gives of her rarest. It is Home Sweet Home to me,
And I know when I die I shall breathe my last sigh
For my sunny California.
II.
I love your red-wood forests — love your fields of yellow grain.
I love your summer breezes and I love your winter rain.
I love you, land of flowers; land of honey, fruit and wine.
I love you, California; you have won this heart of mine.
III.
I love your old gray Missions — love your vineyards stretching far.
I love you, California, with your Golden Gate ajar.
I love your purple sun-sets, love your skies of azure blue.
I love you, California; I just can’t help loving you.
IV.
I love you, Catalina, you are very dear to me.
I love you, Tamalpais, and I love Yosemite.
I love you, Land of Sunshine, Half your beauties are untold.
I loved you in my childhood, and I’ll love you when I’m old.
https://www.library.ca.gov/california-history/state-symbols/
