Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 73

bountiful evergreen leaves provide unique
habitat for common mammals such as
skunks and deer and more unusual organisms
such as slime molds and rare plants, "
says Griffin. Throughout the course of human
history, he adds, the rhododendron
has benefited us humans too.
Evergreen Admiration
The first people in North America to recognize
the rhododendron's beauty and
power were the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians. Per the writings of ethnographer
James Mooney, the Cherokee carved rhododendron
wood into spoons and combs.
Despite its toxicity, says Griffin, Rhododendron
maximum was also used in conjunction
with other plants to address involuntary
muscle twitching, rheumatism
of the knee and heart attacks (or what
the Cherokee called usonuli unt ane ö or
" sudden attack " ). Another rhododendronbased
elixir was used to relieve the nondescript
condition unestanelidoloçöi ( " when
they have pains all over their body " ).
European settlers were equally smitten
with the shrub. In 1799, Scottish botanist
John Fraser first identified the Catawba
rhododendron on a high ridge in North
Carolina. His son, John Fraser, Jr., went on
to describe the voyage as an almost transcendental
experience.
" I shall never forget so long as I live
the day we discovered that plant, " Fraser
wrote. " We had been for a long time
traveling among the mountains, and one
morning we were ascending to the summit
of the Great Roa [Bald Mountain], in
the midst of a fog so dense that we could
not see further than a yard before us.
" As we reached the top, the fog began
to clear away, and the sun to shine out
brightly. The first object that attracted our
eye, growing among the long grass, was a
large quantity of Rhododendron catawbiense
in full bloom. "
In the centuries to come, Southern Appalachia
would go a little rhododendron
crazy. In 1903, for instance, Rhododendron
maximum was designated as the official
state flower of West Virginia after being
voted on by public school students. Apparently,
it beat honeysuckle and wild
rose by more than 15,000 votes.
2760 US Hwy 21 S, Sparta, NC 28675 | 336.372.5773 | www.foxfirerealtyinc.com
MAY/JUNE 2023 73
NICHOLAS MOORE

http://www.foxfirerealtyinc.com

Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023

Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 5
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 6
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 7
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 8
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 9
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 10
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 11
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 12
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 13
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 14
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 15
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 16
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 17
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 18
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 19
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 20
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 21
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 22
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 23
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 24
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 25
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 26
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 27
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 28
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 29
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 30
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 31
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 32
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 33
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 34
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 35
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 36
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 37
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 38
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 39
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 40
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 41
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 42
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 43
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 44
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 45
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 46
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 47
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 48
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 49
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 50
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 51
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 52
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 53
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 54
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 55
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 56
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 57
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 58
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 59
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 60
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 61
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 62
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 63
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 64
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 65
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 66
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 67
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 68
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 69
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 70
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 71
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 72
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 73
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 74
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 75
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 76
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 77
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 78
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 79
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 80
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 81
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - 82
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - Cover4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG1
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG2
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG3
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG4
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG5
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG6
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG7
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG8
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG9
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG10
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG11
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG12
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG13
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG14
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG15
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG16
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG17
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG18
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG19
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG20
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG21
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG22
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG23
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG24
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG25
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG26
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG27
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG28
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG29
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG30
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG31
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG32
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG33
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG34
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG35
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG36
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG37
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG38
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG39
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG40
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG41
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG42
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG43
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG44
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG45
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG46
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG47
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2023 - BRPG48
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com