I saw that too. It looks like a really pretty garden. If I ever got up to Maine (NH & ME are the only northeastern states I haven't visited...) I hope to go there.

"However, they also mentioned that the state flower is the white pine cone and tassel."

Other terms they could've used instead are 'Pinus Strobus female cone and male strobilus' but I suppose that didn't sound as 'catchy' of a phrase to the group of non-scientist members of their legislature (or anyone else for that matter).

I visited in 2014 and thoroughly enjoyed it. They won me over at the start where Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina) was planted along a paved walkway near the entrance. I also remember a grouping of Metasequoia ‘Gold Rush’ that looked amazing, especially considering the garden didn’t open until 2007. The whole Maine coast is splendid, but if you’re a plant lover, CMBG is not to be missed.

Back to my inquiry, is a cone (male or female) considered a flower? I think not.

You're correct with your last statement maackia.

Gymnosperms do not produce flowers.

Why exactly they (Maine .gov) chose to use that for their state flower is anybody's guess.

Most likely it was a 'Feel Good' moment by those involved, which is becoming our reason for doing things, more and more in this country (with results as confusing as this one).

There's alot of naming convention-errors in botany or other things too. Just one tree ex, how many conifers are called "cedars", and actually aren't? Just sayin.... And beesneeds makes a good point about fairly recent history. I'm not really bothered about Maine's technical naming error, any more than someone calling a Virginia juniper a red cedar.

Tassel is a common name for male strobilus. I suppose depending on what area you are in.

Someone back then, really loved the white pine and justifiably so, considering the rich history of the WP in that area.