STATELY BLOOMS: Among the many flowers that bloom locally starting in late May is the mountain laurel, the state flower of Pennsylvania.

According to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Gov. Gifford Pinchot chose the official state flower on May 5, 1933. The General Assembly had previously passed bills naming both the mountain laurel and the pink azalea the leading bloom, and Pinchot chose between the two.

We’re not sure if the mountain laurels are in bloom yet this year.

The mountain laurel, a member of the heath family, boasts plants such as huckleberries, blueberries, azaleas, cranberries and rhododendrons as relatives, the DCNR says.

The pink and white Mountain laurels can be found “throughout most of the State’s wooded hillsides,” according to the DCNR.

The department also states that while the mountain laurel is the state flower, it holds no special protection above what any other plant is offered.

The DCNR reports: “No one may remove any plant from public or private land without the landowner’s or land manager’s permission. But there are no legal restrictions on the cultivation of Mountain laurel. And there are many good reasons to grow and enjoy Pennsylvania’s beautiful State flower.”

 As the spring weather continues, more and more of the summer insects seem to be creeping their way back into our living spaces, and we were wondering, what kind of impact would the extra cold winter — and late start to spring — have on our six- and eight-legged friends? Any? They seem pretty vigorous.