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PAGE 8A PICKENS COUNTY PROGRESS THURSDAY. MAY 12. 2022
Plants of the Southeast
Pinkshell azalea,
’’Rhododendron vaseyi”
Ball Ground Senior Center planting
By John Nelson
University of South
Carolina
Ah, the Blue Ridge Park
way: truly one of our national
treasures. An incredible
amount of scenery and natu
ral history abounds all along
its length, and all year long.
Although there is no “wrong”
time to be on the Parkway—
unless it’s snowing heavily—
many people say that late
spring is the best, mostly be
cause of the amazing variety
of blooming plants to see.
This shrub is one of those
plants.
Interestingly, this decidu
ous shrub, the Pinkshell
azalea, [Rhododendron
vaseyi] which can get to be
12-15’ tall, is absolutely na
tive only to North Carolina,
and in only a few counties (5
actually) in the mountains.
It is a plant fond of deeply
shaded slopes, at elevations
above 3000’, and it is com
monly seen in spots along the
Parkway, just off the high
way. It is blooming now.
The pinkshell flowers are
spectacular. Each one flares
open widely, about 2” across.
Five petals are fused to
gether, just barely, at the
base. The three upper petals
form a sort of upturned lip,
while the lower two petals
provide a lower lip.
The petals vary from
white to red, but are probably
most often a delicate, pale
shade of pink (something like
the inner surface of a conch
shell?) often with the upper
most spotted red or yellow.
Five (sometimes seven) sta
mens arise around the central
pistil.
Despite the charming ap
pearance of these blossoms,
there is no scent to speak
of—but who’s complaining?
After blooming, each
flower produces a short,
woody capsule, eventually
splitting open and dropping
its tiny seeds. This plant is
easily grown in gardens, and
is available from well-
stocked nurseries, and there
are several cultivars of it. It is
adaptable to many sites, but
is probably happiest in partial
shade and at least moderately
moist soils. In the fall, its fo
liage turns an attractive red.
Careful gardeners seeking
this plant will make sure that
they select only plants certi
fied NOT to be collected
from the wild.
This rhododendron was
discovered in 1878 in Jack-
son County, North Carolina,
by George Richard Vasey,
whose father was the first
botanist for the US Depart
ment of Agriculture.
The younger Vasey be
came a botanist as well, trav
eling widely, and sharing his
dried herbarium specimens
with a number of colleagues,
including the famous botanist
at Harvard University, Asa
Gray.
Gray, after studying his
specimen, realized that this
shrub (which many readers
of this column will recognize
as a sort of native azalea) was
a new species, and so he
coined a scientific name that
honors its discoverer. The
specimen available to Gray is
still at Harvard, and is what
we botanists refer to as the
“holotype” of the new
species name.
Now, if you happen to
finding some of this in next
little while, or if you are
growing it in your garden, I
hope that you will decline
tasting or eating the leaves or
flowers. Turns out that all
parts of this beautiful shrub
are toxic.
©JohnNelson2022
[John Nelson is the retired
curator of the A. C. Moore
Herbarium at the University of
South Carolina, in the Depart
ment of Biological Sciences, Co
lumbia SC 29208. As a public
service, the Herbarium offers
free plant identifications. For
more information, visit
www.herbarium.org or email
johnbnelson@sc.rr.com.]
Jasper Farmers Market report
By Jenny Fellenbaum
Market Manager
As we all know, some
times the weatherman and
phones are not always accu
rate. As was the case this past
Saturday. Light rain, heavy
mist and cool temperatures
however did not stop another
successful market day.
Many mothers received a
free begonia, and shoppers
found colorful flowers, art,
candles, soaps and more.
Coffee and hot chocolate
from Kebra, Red Bean Cof
fee, kept us warm. Little
Ilene’s brownies kept us
sweet, and the sweet rolls
(cinnamon or fruit) from
Sweet Treats were definitely
a treat.
Zach Henson’s table dis
played onions and radishes.
While Steve & Becky
Alexander’s table offered let
tuce and micro greens. Plants
for your garden were plenti
ful from Jones Family Farm,
Bunny Johnson and Family
Grown’s Nathan & Ansleigh.
Upon arriving home, a dreary
day brought sad news.
Tim May
Members of the Ball Ground Garden Club recently visited the city’s senior center to
help residents establish a summer container garden. Here, members are shown working
on a few designs.
The Ball Ground Garden
Club assisted the senior cen
ter of Ball Ground in planting
their summer planters and
learning about plant care.
Patti McNorton, garden club
member, educated the seniors
on each plant and how to
plant and care for each one,
while planting two planters.
Vivian Little, garden club
and senior citizen center
member organized the educa
tional and occupational ther
apy event.
The garden club is spon
soring a plant sale and festi
val on May 21 at 215 Valley
St, Ball Ground. Please join
the festivities.
See https://www.ball-
groundgardenclub.com/plant
sale for more information.
able passion for food and
farming. His presence and
smile will be missed by
many.
Our thoughts and prayers
go out to his daughters, fam
ily and friends. I couldn’t
find too many pictures of
Tim actually at his table, as
he was always full of energy
and visiting everyone. But I
did catch him a couple of
times and wanted to share
that smile. Rest In Peace my
friend.
BBQ & Gospel Concert
Saturday, May 21
Featuring: the Heard Family, First Day,
and Branden Blackwell and friends
Dinner served 4-6 p.m.
BBQ pork, baked beans, coleslaw,
brunswick stew, roll, dessert
Concert at 6 p.m.
First Christian Church
44 Burgess Rd. W., Jasper, GA 30143
(building front faces Refuge Rd.)
_ 5 0/50
Us h Raff]
during
dinner
Proceeds
benefit
Order of the
Eastern Star
$15.00 per person
*Dine-in or carry-out available
Tickets available at the Pickens County Progress
in Jasper or from Eastern Star Guardian Club
members. Contact Sheri at 770-894-2909 for Pickens
area, or Gail at 770-887-8147 Cherokee/Cumming area.
Tim May was a hard
working man with an unde
niable passion for food and
farming. His presence and
smile will be missed by
many.
Over the past 23 years
I’ve seen many faces come
and go and have been thru
the loss of many of our older
folks. However, the news of
losing vendor Tim May hurts
especially hard.
May was a young, hard
working man with an undeni-
■
SECQg
Let's partner for
life's moments.
Together, we'll help you prepare
for the next one — big or small.
Clyde L Cody
Financial Advisor
744 Noah Dr Suite 103
Jasper, GA 30143-8705
706-692-0793
MKT-13987-A-A2 © 2021 EDWARD D. JONES & CO., L.P. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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