Consisting of a green background with stripes of blue , white , yellow , red , and black , the state tartan of Washington was designed by Margaret McLeod van Nus and Frank Cannonito in 1988 to commemorate the Washington centennial celebration . It was registered with the Scottish Tartans Society after its adoption by the state legislature in 1991 . The colors represent various aspects of nature : green symbolizes rich forests of the state ; blue the lakes , rivers and ocean ; white the snow-capped mountains ; red the apple and cherry crops ; yellow the wheat and grain crops ; and black the eruption of Mount St. Helens
eruption
1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens
Washington state tartan