's Azalea Lady Ken Gohring—Marietta, Georgia

ne of the most ,.„ ..... 1119111 largest private collection in the Southeast, if not the entire O picturesque sites country. Most of Joan's azaleas have been collected from in the South is the city native areas nearby her Newnan home. ...eA rr of Newnan, Georgia, The Adcock garden is a part of an attractive small located about 40 miles farm located in a rustic area south of Newnan. The home southeast of Atlanta, is surrounded by a large planting of mature native azaleas boasting a population of varying colors that accent the home's perimeter. The of more than 24,000 home is situated in a sparse pine forest that filters direct citizens. Newnan sunlight, preventing sunburn of the plants but allowing features scores of at- good light to ensure good bloom set. The main garden is tractive homes and is located at the rear of the home and extends into the pine proudly known as the understory. city of homes. Newnan The Adcock garden consists mostly of Oconee aza- is home of country • Joan Adcock leas, flammeum, and most likely hybrids of music star Alan Jack- Oconee and the Piedmont azalea, R. canescens. Joan's son. The late writer-humorist Lewis Grizzard, raised in collection also includes other native species, including a nearby Moreland, attended high school in Newnan. One large collection of Plumleaf azaleas, R. prunifolium. She of the current residents of this charming city is a delight- also has R. minus var. carolinium in her collection. ful southern lady, named Joan Adcock. In fact, Joan was a The color range of the Adcock azaleas is quite broad, high school classmate of Grizzard. She is a native azalea ranging from white to pink to yellow to and pure specialist, who over a period of 25-plus years has accu- red, with many blooms having multiple combinations mulated thousands of native azaleas. of these base colors. Some have described some of the Joan was first attracted to native azaleas through the colors as salmon, apricot, , butterscotch, and can- influence of her late uncle and brother. The interest grew taloupe. Terms such as "washed flesh," "rolled gold," and expanded as she introduced her husband and later her "watered ," and "shrimp pink" are also descriptive of two sons to her hobby. She was also influenced by the some of the colors present. A large majority of the plants venerable Fred Galle, director of horticulture at the near- have the most common R. flammeum color, orange, with by Callaway Gardens. For several years, Joan attended many orangish red . seminars conducted by Galle, and many of her ideas and The garden consists of several sections with the older practices were learned from these sessions. areas containing taller plants. The plants range in size The Adcock garden, in full bloom, rivals any garden from relatively short heights to ten feet, indicative of the in diversity of color and bloom quality. The garden has an mixed heritage of the plants. Normally flammeum azaleas unusually large collection of natives that is probably the top out at six to eight feet, while canescens grow up to 15 • 'Frosted' • 'Butterscotch Rose'

18 • The Azalean / Spring 2009 as wellthewidevarietyofcolors,areindicative lymenoides, R.alabamense, exhibit aslightfragrancealsoindicateshybridnature.It feet ormore.Thetallergrowthofsomethespecimens, mid-Georgia. hybrid natureofmanytheplants.Thefactthatsome is typicallyrepresentedinaplantJoannamed'Apricot is alsopossiblethatthegeneticmakeupincludes Ball'. Thisplant'sbloomsareacolorbestdescribedas apricot, withlightgoldcenters.Thesebloomsformina tight ballaslargeabaseball. is thenumberofball-trussblooms.Thisfeature of Joan'sfavoritesisabeautifulyellowformcalled'Yel- petal abrighteryellowandruffledlace-likeedges. exhibits apetalformcharacterizedasstarshaped.One low Lace'whichhasmostlylightyellowpetalswithone low blotch.Adesirableredandorangeplant,called'Star', light', exhibitsawhitetosalmoncenterwithbrightyel- One distinguishingfeatureoftheAdcockcollection Another particularAdcockfavorite,'DoubleDe- ♦ ♦ Yellow Lace' `Jaci's Pink' and othernativesfoundin R. peric-

Photo Joan Adcock where thepetalsoverlap.'Frosted',atri-coloredbloomer, gle goldenpetal.Italsofeaturesdarkpinkdotsatpoints edges oneachpetal.Thecenteroffourthepetalsisa is abrighterpinkwithbrightgoldpetalanddarker of thecollectedplants.Theyworkedwithtimbercompany collect wasobtainedthroughacquaintancesmadewith in theAdcockcollectionfeaturehose-in-hoseanddouble when sitesweretimbered.Inothercasespermissionto lecting azaleasusingadisciplinethatassuredthesurvival like characteristics. light pink,almostwhiteincolor.Otherunnamedplants practices: ployed. Joan'scollectiondisciplineincludesthefollowing contacts establishedatthehospitalwhereJoanwasem- personnel toremoveplantsthatwouldlikelybedestroyed `Canyon' hasalightshrimpcoloredblossomwithsin- Joan andherhusbandHarrystartedaprogramofcol- a) Collectionofplantsinbloom.Thisinsuresthat the collectedplantisdesirableandworthyofher collection. ♦ ♦ 'Six Petals' 'Canyon' The Azalean /Spring 2009•19 b) Severe pruning of plant. This technique includes the removal of earth around the plants roots and severe cutback of the plant's branches. In his book, American Azaleas, Clarence Towe describes this method. In a personal conversation, Clarence revealed that he described Joan's technique, dis- cussed in more detail below. c) Planting of collected plants in rotted sawdust. The sawdust is collected from abandoned sawmills and consists of mixed woods. The material is well aged and is likely 20 to 25 years old. d) Assurance of adequate watering and fertilization. No fertilizer is applied the first year. Newly plant- ed specimens are watered about every three days. After the first year the plants are usually well es- tablished and are not watered on a regular basis. • 'Apricot Ball' In periods of drought like the experience in the Southeast the last two years, the plants are watered periodically. Rescuing Wild Plants The Adcock method consists of using a spade to cut the roots around the plant's shaft, getting as many roots as While collection of plants from the wild is possible. The plant is dug to a depth up to eight inches or frowned upon by many plant enthusiasts, it is a more. The dirt around the roots is shaken off, taking care practice that saves plants from destruction in many to preserve as many roots as possible. The plant is then cases. The organized plant rescue program of the placed in a large plastic bag for transportation to the plant- Georgia Native Plant Society was discussed in a ing bed. Care is taken to prevent any drying of the roots by recent article published in the Journal of the Amer- moistening the roots and placing water in the plastic bag. ican Rhododendron Society, Summer 2008. That Removal of dirt from the roots helps prevent the program is directed toward rescuing plants from growth of any wild weeds, and placement in the bag with areas being developed primarily in rapidly grow- the dirt removed helps prevent damage. The plants are ing areas of Atlanta, where land is cleared of veg- placed in the rotted sawdust beds. All of the plant's foliage etation in the construction process. and small limbs are removed, and a decision is made as to In many cases exceptional cultivars of native how much of the main stalk to preserve. If the amount of azaleas have been saved from destruction. Exam- roots is substantial, then all of the main trunk up to six feet ples are discussed in Galle's writings, in particu- is preserved. However if there are concerns that the root lar when he describes an area west of Atlanta, that structure may have difficulty supporting the full trunk, it yielded the unusual 'Chattahoochee' and is shortened, in some cases to six inches. The plant is wa- other plants that were relocated to Callaway Gar- tered adequately and periodically, especially in dry sea- dens. Prominent azalea authority Earl Sommer- sons. Many times the rescued plants will quickly exhibit ville recently registered several outstanding native new growth and sometimes set buds for next year's flow- azaleas that he rescued several years ago from the ers. site of present day Lake Allatoona, located north Truly the Adcock garden is a place of beauty, and Joan of Atlanta. welcomes visitors. It is a popular site visited by numerous Without such activity these plants would not groups from the Newnan area such as master gardeners be available. The primary concern regarding ex- and senior groups. It is also visited by others interested traction of plants from the wild should be directed in native azaleas who travel significant distances to view toward the wholesale removal of plants for com- the plants. At present none of the cultivars are available in mercial purposes, which usually results in the the nursery trade, but Joan is considering making some of destruction of plant populations. The aforemen- the select plants available. Such action will enhance our tioned program of the Georgia Native Plant Soci- gardens as the plants are truly outstanding. ety restricts the commercial sale of rescued plants. Exceptions are made for the Society's plant sale Ken Gohring is a member of the Oconee Chapter of the which supports the group's programs. These pro- ASA and serves as president of the Azalea Chapter of the grams include site restoration and the supplying of ARS. His primary gardening interest is native plants, par- natives for public gardens. ticularly native azaleas.

20 • The Azalean / Spring 2009