From The Field: Birminghamia Woodstock Lowcountry
Am situated lakeside on Logan Martin at my extended familes' retreat the ashen sky is struggling to hold out but the blue is making a showing here and there. The forest here is mixed deciduous and many varietes of pine that grow here in the foothills of appalachia....pines that heretofore had been a tacit blur in the foliar melange of greens that make up the bulk of so many miles of endless woodland....but have taken my favor only this last season with my new adoration for robust and sublime evergreen materials. I believe there is scotch pine here that reminds me of deodar cedar and might merit a closer investigation. Also there is a mature specimen Chamereacyparis that looks to me to be a 'Golden Mop' or a forerunner of this cultivar...which I intend to photograph for publication. The intensity of color is...in my opinion somewhat diminshed as it is full winter in this region of the southeast. I imagine late May early June will prove a fluffy vigorous new chatreuse glow. The Juniperus virginia...eastern red cedar is in full berry and cone throughout the southeast...in to the low country and along the First Coast until Ponte Vedra where my path has taken me here of late. Cedar is my second favorite evergreen tree after Magnolia grandiflora or "bull bay". As is the case with many southerns of the wood I am genetically engineered to succumb to a cocktail that combined with moonlight produces a glistening euphoria of a radiance without name or comparison. The magnolias of the lowcountry have been stricken for at least two if not three years running with a heavy infestation of a scale causing heartache in the garden communities thereabout. It has been quite interesting to observe the language and exchange of knowledge about this white powdery life sucking pest. There has been chemical application recommended for treatment but I dont like to spray. Then there is the impact on those who entertain...who gather from the forest...as is tradition about the south...not including Victoriana. I think its remarkable the blemish of insect infestation like a scar on the foliar palette. In the garden everyone knows about this topic it seems to me...and there again I talk a lot....a lot and about gardens...as is the way.
The trail leads often here of late to lead to the islands. Having spent Christmas and New Year's Eve oceanfront by the grace of a very cool friend, I found myself returned rather quickly to the continuing renovation of the Lima Bean Cottage. Engaged the Protege for several days and he is returning to a renewed vigor after a year of restoration. We made our way round between the base of the dunes on Amelia's south end, the farm at Woodstock where 'Tractor' lives, St. Marys, and back again and Cole is a classic good host. I got to visit with Yellowbird the Golden Eagle, where she operates a CSA organic prouction farm raising leaf and flower, goat and hen. The rooster is quite a fancy tophat and they are the lot of them healthy and vivacious. As there had at the time been frost of little signifcance there were still procducing perfect sunflowers at Christmas week. Her greens and flowers are the cleanest and most beautiful in the soil and at the market as if insect and disease has met a barrier too enchanted to cross. to be continued
