"The Garden State" is New Jersey's familiar nickname, but the origin of the nickname is hazy at best. "Garden State" is printed on New Jersey license plates. All State Nicknames
A quote from the official New Jersey website: "Alfred M. Heston, in his two-volume work, "Jersey Waggon Jaunts" (published in 1926), credits Abraham Browning of Camden with coining the name at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia on New Jersey Day in 1876.
New Jersey designated knobbed whelk (Busycon carica gmelin) as the official state shell in 1995. Knobbed whelk shells can be found on all beaches and bays of New Jersey. All State Fish, Shells & Aquatic Life
New Jersey designated highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) as the official state fruit in 2003 after fourth-graders at Veteran’s Memorial Elementary School in Brick campaigned to make the blueberry the official fruit symbol of New Jersey. All State Foods
The honeybee (apis mellifera) was designated the official state bug of New Jersey in 1974 after encouragement given by a group of students from the Sunnybrae School in Hamilton Township (they appeared at the New Jersey State House and gave a presentation that included a song and a poem). New Jersey also recognizes an official state butterfly. All State Insects
New Jersey's official state colors are buff and Jersey blue; these colors dominate the state flag of New Jersey. All State Colors
New Jersey was named for the English Channel Island of Jersey in honor of Sir George Carteret (one of the two men to whom the land was originally given). All State Name Origins
The great seal of New Jersey was originally designed by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere in 1777 and has had only minor changes made to it since then. The state flag also features New Jersey's coat of arms (the central design of the state seal). All State Seals
In 1780, during the Revolutionary war, General George Washington directed that the regiments of the New Jersey Continental Line have a flag of dark blue and buff (buff and Jersey blue are now recognized as the official state colors of New Jersey). All State Flags
New Jersey's official state motto is "Liberty and Prosperity" (the state motto appears on New Jersey's great seal and state flag). All State Mottos
New Jersey originally adopted violet as the state flower in 1913, but the resolution's power ended when the 1914 legislative session began. It wasn't until 1971, at the urging of New Jersey garden clubs, that legislation was finally passed to specify the common meadow violet (Viola sororia) as the official state flower of New Jersey. Rhode Island, Illinois, and Wisconsin also recognize violet as an official state symbol. All State Flowers