Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2B
Monroe County Outdoors
Reporter
July 2, 2008
What’s Monroe Co.’s most beautiful wildflower?
E veryone has
their favorite
wildflower.
What is your fa
vorite? Is it the
Flowering Dogwood, Wild
Azalea, Trillium, Violet, or
one of the scores of
others that adorn the
Monroe County coun
tryside? My nomina
tion for this prestigious
title is the Passion
flower and it is in full
bloom right now.
The Passionflower
is easy to identify. It
is a vine that
typically crawls
along the ground.
Vines can reach
up to 30’ in
length. The leaves are
shiny green and three-
lobed. The complex, two to
three-inch flowers are
lavender and white.
Ironically, although the
Passionflower’s blossom
surpasses the beauty of the
vast majority of the culti
vated plants commonly
found in our yards, it is
rarely found there. To the
contrary, many consider it
just a weed. Consequently,
if you were to go looking
for it you would find it
blooming along red-clay
ditches, in old fields, power
line right-of-ways,
fencerows and even open
woodlands where the trees
are sparse enough to allow
the hot summer sun to
bathe the forest floor with
liberal doses of sunlight.
Worldwide there are
some 400 species of
Passionflowers or Maypops
as they are called in the
South. All are native to
some of the warmer parts
of the world such as
Mexico, Peru, West Indies,
India as well as Central
and South America. Purple
and Yellow Passionflowers
are both native to Georgia.
The Purple Passionflower
is the Maypop that is com
monly found in the county.
It blooms in the hot lan
guid days of late spring
and summer.
Wildlife like songbirds
and quail sparingly eat the
seeds of the Passionflower.
However, it is an extremely
important host plant for
two species of
butterflies
that frequent
Monroe
County. It is
the only
known host
plant for the
Gulf Fritillary.
The
Variegated
Fritillary
also uses
Passionflower as a cater
pillar host along with vio
lets.
Humans also dine on
Maypops. Captain John
Smith, of the Virginia
Colony, provides us with
one of the first written
records of the plant’s food
value. In his writing he
related that the fruit
tastes like lemon. Although
Native Americans and
early colonists used
Maypops to cure every
thing from nerves and
insomnia to convulsions,
today few Monroe
Countians have developed
a taste for wild Maypops.
Interestingly, though, if
you have enjoyed drinking
Hawaiian Punch, you have
consumed juice extracted
from the fruit of the
Passionflower.
However, the thing the
sets the Passionvine apart
for other local wildflowers
is that, in the minds of
some, its intricate flower is
symbolic of the Passion of
Jesus - that dramatic time
that extended from the
Last Supper to His death
on the cross. History tells
us that the first person to
sketch the plant and
describe its symbolism was
a little-known Mexican
Augustinian Friar in 1610.
The leaves of the
Passionflower are said to
represent the spears bran
dished by the soldiers pres
ent at the crucifixion. The
flower’s white petals
denote purity and those
that are purple Christ’s
purple robe. The 10 petals
and sepals are said to sym
bolize the 10 apostles that
remained faithful to
Christ. The flower contains
72 radial filaments that
are said to form either a
halo or the crown of thorns
worn by Christ during the
crucifixion. The whips are
cords used to bind and per
secute the Lord are sup
posedly represented by the
flower’s spiral tendrils.
The flower’s 5 anthers
symbolize the five wounds
inflicted on Christ’s body
by the soldiers. The large
stamen supposedly repre
sents the hammers used to
nail Jesus to the cross. The
stigmas atop the flower are
purported to illustrate the
Trinity, the three crosses
and the nails that were
driven through The Lord’s
feet and hands.
Additionally, the sponge
used to offer Christ sour
wing is depicted by the
style. Finally, the stigma,
style and ovary at the cen
ter of the flower are said to
represent the Lord’s goblet.
The Passionflower is a
great addition to any home
landscape. A number of
varieties such as Incense,
Blue Passion, and
Lavender Lady are avail
able to homeowners.
However, since many orna
mental types of
Passionflowers are not
winter hardy, they are
grown as annuals.
Consequently, the one that
I would recommend for use
in Monroe County land
scapes is our native Purple
Passionflower. This plant
can withstand our winter
temperatures. Check a
PASSIONFLOWER
nursery that specializes in
native plants for seedlings.
If you are unsuccessful in
obtaining plants, collect a
few dried fruits this fall
and winter and plant the
seeds they contain. The
vines can be trained to
grow on fences and trellis
es or allowed to spread
across the ground.
Whether or you plant
Passionflower as a fasci
nating conservation piece
or for its beauty, one thing
is certain, Gulf and
Variegated Fritillaries will
find them. When they do,
in a short period of time,
your backyard will be full
of a new generation of
these colorful flying flow
ers.
Terry Johnson is a
Wildlife Biologist with the
Department of Natural
Resources, Wildlife
Resources Division and the
Director of the Nongame
Endangered Wildlife
Program at Rum Creek
Wildlife Management Area.
He can be reached at (478)
994-1438 or via email at
TJWoodDuck@aol. com.
Family is why
WE DO IT ALL
We all feel the same commitment to
care for our families. As your good
neighbor agent, I can help you
meet your insurance needs.
Call me today.
Steve Osborne, Agent
80 Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Forsyth, GA31029
Bus: 478-994-1041
steve.osborne.cgrt@statefarm.com
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JEFF SHEPHERD
Owner
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By Jep Castleberry
MP to host
baseball camp
The Mary Persons base
ball coaching staff and
Bulldog players are host
ing the first annual Future
Bulldog youth baseball
camp for kids ages 6-12 in
July. The three-day camp
will be held at the MP
baseball field July 9-11
from 9 a.m. to noon each
day.
This is the very first
Bulldog baseball camp and
new head baseball coach
Jonathan Gastley says the
camp will focus on develop
ing fundamentals in hit
ting, pitching, fielding and
base-running techniques.
Gastley says the camp will
help him get to know some
of the future Bulldogs and
help instill the fundamen
tals early on so when the
players get to the middle
school and high school lev
els they will know more
about what to expect.
The fee for the camp is
$40 per player, which cov
ers instruction, games and
a camp t-shirt. Make
checks payable to MP
Dugout Club. Complete the
form above and bring it to
registration July 9 at 9
a.m.
For more information
contact Coach Gastley at
770-851-0457 or email
coachgastley7 @hotmail .com
RELEASE FOR
MEDICAL
TREATMENT
MARY PERSONS BULLDOG BASEBALL CAMP
Name_
Date:.
Application will
not be complete
until this signed
form is
returned. Since
all athletes
attending are
under 18 years
of age, it is
necessary for
our doctors to
have permission
to administer aid
if necessary.
Last
Date of last tetanus
immunization
First
Middle
Any allergies to medicines? If so, list:
List any conditions physicians should be aware of:.
Email address:
Phone number in case of emergency: Day_
Camper’s age:
Cell
Insurance Coverage for accidental injury is required for all participants.
Please indicate your current coverage data.
Insurance company: Policy #:
Parent or Guardian signature
The undersigned here
by acknowledges that
camp participation in
volves an inherent
risk, and the
undersigned, on
of the registrant, does
hereby release the
camp and all employ
ees and agents from
any liability
whatsoever. I hereby
stat that I am the legal
guardian of said child.
Date
Signature of
parent/guardian
DRUG CO* LLC
N. Lee St. • 994-2051
Relief From Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac
Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are toxic plants that may
lead to contact dermatitis in susceptible individuals.
Urushiol is the chemical substance contained in these
plants that is responsible for causing the skin irritation. It
causes a typical red, itchy rash. Swelling and blisters may
be present. Once exposed to urushiol, a reaction will typi
cally develop within 12 to 48 hours. Poison ivy and poison
oak typically grow 3 leaflets to a stem. Sumac typically
has 2 rows of leaflets and each stem. A skin reaction may
occur as a result of touching the toxic plant, coming into
contact with an object that has come with the plant (such
as a jacket), or inhaling the smoke from burned toxic
plants. Although the rash is not contagious, urushiol may
be transmitted from person to person, there by inducing a
reaction.
Although the rash caused by poison ivy, oak, or sumac
will typically resolve without treatment within 1 to 3
weeks, treatment are available for the alleviation of asso
ciated signs and symptoms. Medications available over-
the-counter include hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion,
and diphenhydramine ( Benadryl). Cold, wet compresses
also may be used for 15 to 30 minutes several times daily.
An oral steroid, such as prednisone, may be prescribe for
more severe reactions.
Wal Mart fishing tourney benefits
Macon Children’s Hospital
Wal-Mart associates sponsored a Bass Fishing Tournament at
Berry's Boat Dock on Lake Jackson in May and raised $596 for
the Children’s Hospital in Macon. There were 11 boats entered.
In first place was the team of Tim Burdett and Stacey Eaton
(above). Burdett and Eaton were also the big bass winners with
a 5.43 pound bass. Wal-Mart would like to thank Berry's Boat
Dock who also made a donation and was helpful to them
throughout the whole event. Among those who donated prizes
was Main Street Outfitters of Forsyth. Associates from the
Forsyth Wal-Mart donated $10,160 to the Children's Miracle
Network Telethon on 13 WMAZ in Macon.
South Atlanta Urology &
Gynecology Associates P.C.
Donald A. Culley MD, PhD, FACS
Urologist
Diplomat of the American Board of Urology
• Do you lose urine when you cough or sneeze? • Do you have slow urine flow?
• Do you have sudden strong urges to urinate • Do you get up multiple times during the night
and can you get to the bathroom in time? to urinate?
•If so,you can be helped!
SERVICES INCLUDED:
• Minimally invasive surgery for urinary incontinence & pelvic
organ prolapse • Urodynamic testing • Erectile dysfunction
• Kidney stones • Urologic cancers • Scalpel free vasectomy
• Prostrate problems • Circumcision • Infertility
231 West College St. • Griffin • Fax: 678-904-5212
Phone: 678-904-5211