Sunday, April 1, 1951

Good hot day. Took Tex. 787 from Kontze making a
circle by way of Saratoga, Votaw, Cleveland, Conroe,
Huntsville, Livingston, Woodville & down U.S. 69.
Plenty of Azaleas in Hardin Co. especially in the "Big Thicket,"
but the Trinity River has a broad flat valley &
and beyond the county is much drier — probably too dry.
Best mass collection was at Livingston. Still no luck
on the credit card.

Monday, April 2, 1951

Not much accomplished today. Collected
plants in the "Big Thicket" this morning. This
after failed at P.O. so got the car greased &
drove via route 287 to Crockett for the night to
try & collect at the type locality — Grapeland —
tomorrow. Saw no Azaleas beyond Polk Tyler Co.
It feels very dry up this way — almost the
Black Prairie type of county but it may change
quickly to the north. I don't like so much spanish
moss around.

Tuesday, April 3, 1951

Plenty of Azaleas as Grapeland but with no
leaves & in tight bud — evidently quite different to
the canescens complex collected so far. Will try &
return sometime in May when they should be open.
Ran up to the Texas Expr. Sta. at Tyler but found it
a small outfit — very diverse & with Yarnell moved to
S.C. Did not stay long. No herbarium — it being at
A & M at Bryan. The roses are all grown by small
farmers in small cultivated lots in otherwise quite
heavily wooded country — again not as expected.
Taking routes 69 & 63 for Zavalia, returned to
Jasper for the night. Good Azaleas & a mass
collection in Angelina & Jasper Counties.

Wednesday, April 4, 1951

Not having azalea records from San Augustine & Sabine Counties
& feeling sure that there must be plenty; ran fast up U.S. 96 to
Brookland & collect in both. They are there in quantity &
probably extend much farther north in Texas. Retracing steps
to Jasper, took route to Newton & Alexandria via
La. 21. Newton County also has an abundance of
Azaleas, as does Vernon in Louisiana. Made meager
collections only, including some Taxodium at the Sabine
River. A mass collection some 12 mi. out of Alexandria
on Route 21. About the same in variation and appearance
as in Texas. All collected a few plants to check on
later. Will not be surprised if the western population
turns out to be largely tetraploid. Flowers especially
are quite large. At Alexandria for the night.
A very pleasant city.

Thursday, April 5, 1951

A quite productive day. With slight detour, followed
US 167 from Alexandria, La. to El Dorado, Ark.,
collecting in all counties passed through (7) & making 2
mass collections. The Canescens complex is common
the whole way — in the moist stream bottom localities in
which one would expect to find it. Also secured a
plant of the deepest pink yet seen — plus one or
two others for later analysis. The degree of variation
seems to remain much about the same with flowers
still generally larger than those east of the Mississippi River. Have
not run into the true oblongifolium mass since Grapeland,
Tex. Will attempt one more mass near Little
Rock before heading back into Mississippi.

Friday, April 6, 1951

The mass collection near Sheridan, Ark. did not
materialize. One meager sampling in Calhoun Co. marked the
last Azaleas seen through the whole day. It is probable
that this phase tends to run out somewhere in this region.
The dogwood was just as far advanced so they could
have been unopened but several excursions into the wood
were fruitless in turning up plants. Headed S.E. on U.S.
270 for Sheridan, crossing the Mississippi River on U.S. 82 at
Greenville, continuing to Winona & then south on U.S. 51
almost into Jackson — a distance of 393 miles for the day.
Unfortunately the route chosen followed & crossed the main
river valleys most of the way. In such valleys where Cypress
grows, the soil is gray & possibly alkaline. No conifers & no
dogwood is present — which indicated it's almost certain absence
of azaleas & this is probably true for the entire Mississippi Valley.
Why they do not seem obvious in Central Mississippi is somewhat of
a mystery. They should fit among the red pine covered hills. The
land however has been nearly completely ravished by poor farming.
Expect to find them around them around Jackson tomorrow morning.

Saturday, April 7, 1951

Took a run to Scott Co. & collected. Also slid off the very wet
dirt road & had to get towed out. Saw Azaleas in Rankin Co. but
hoped for better & passed them up. They are few & far between up this
way. Returned to Jackson & took U.S. 51 south to Brookhaven, then
east on U.S. 84, collecting along the way in most counties to Laurel
for the night. There should be Azaleas everywhere but the land
is so badly burned & farmed that few natural woodlots are
left. Even so the digable streams do not have the population
that they do in Louisiana.

Sunday, April 8, 1951

Did not make much mileage but collected in practically
every county on U.S. 84 between Waynesboro & Andalusia,
Ala. All canescens type except for a single yellow
in Covington Co. The canescens is getting a little by
but shows considerable variation between early & late
forms among those growing together. A beautiful day.

Monday, April 9, 1951

Did not make as much progress as hoped for but
made some good collections. Travelled via U.S. 29 to
Brantley, Ala., Ala. 52 to Elba, packed the plants for
the Arboretum & expressed them with specimens at Troy (Ala.
15). Took 231 & Ala. 10 to Abbeville but couldn't
find a cabin & had to go 30 mi. S. to Dothan for
the night. High spots of the day included another
hybrid swarm of Austrinum x canescens, the first
alabamense with it's delightful scent & an amazing
swarm of apparently austrinumcanescensalabamense.
Should have taken photographs but the light was too
bad. Loaded down with more plants again. How
do the species keep separate when they hybridize
so much & so easily???

Tuesday, April 10, 1951

From Dothan by way of Ala. 52, Ga. 62 & 91
to Camilla, Ga. to gather mail then on as far
as Moultrie for the night. Baker Co. falls
very much in the dry Dougherty Plain area &
has few Azaleas.

Wednesday, April 11, 1951

From Moultrie via U.S. 319 to Ocilla then Ga. 32
to Patterson amp; 38 to Jesup for the night.
Made one mass collection but the pickings were
poor in the last few counties. Apparently these dry
sandy upland terrace areas(Bacon, Pearce & Wayne Counties) have very little besides
serrulatum in the swamps. A lovely cabin for
the night.

Thursday, April 12, 1951

It started off promising to rain but fortunately cleared
as the day went on. Needed a mass collection in Wayne
Co. but so far had drawn a blank. Taking U.S. 301
explored the Altamaha River bluffs but again no luck. Was
impressed however with the density of vegetation & noting that
the Franklinia territory (Fort Barrington)was not far away
decided to have a little side Franklinia hunt on the opposite
side of the river. Accordingly drove back to Jesup & down
U.S. 341 to Grangerville ‸ (12 mi.) where a dirt road was found leading
back to the river. About a mile from the river Azalea
canescens suddenly appeared & increased until the river
bluffs were simply smothered with it. The mass collection
was no problem! Colors were puden wildly in shades of light
to very dark pink — only relatively few approaching white.
Worked the river jungle for an hour or so but no sign
of Franklinia. Most anything, however, could be in
there. Returning to Jesup took U.S. 341 to McRae for
the night. No Azaleas evident of the typical coastal plain
until a change in contour developed at Hazlehurst. Evidently
these plants do not like the plain proper & follow into it
only down the broader river valleys where it is cooler &
moister. For some reason Telfair Co. does not yet seem
promising for another mass collection.

Friday, April 13, 1951

Traveled today from McRae via Ga. 27, 26 & U.S. 103
to the outskirts of Phenix City, Ala. Had no luck in
Telfair Co. but by dint of some search made out
pretty well in the next 3 counties including a "mass"
in Pulaski. After that, however, was a complete
blank. With part of Macon & Schley Counties
we again ran out onto those damnable red hills which
are rather dry but nonetheless support blueberries, leucothe,
dogwood & fringe tree ‸ & oceanside kalmia but for some obscure reason
absolutely no azaleas — and this was not for lack of
searching! It is to be hoped that the "Black Belt"
tomorrow will be a little more productive!

Saturday, April 14, 1951

From Phenix City via U.S. 80 to Montgomery then on
U.S. 31 to Greenville for the night. Was fairly successful in
collections including one mass, except for Montgomery Co.
Until getting into Butler, however, they have required a
a great deal of searching for. They are undoubtedly in
all of these counties but we are still very much in the
"red hill" locality & azaleas seem to settle in only
the most favored spots. Being Saturday I missed the
bus in trying to get off a shipment of plants. Could not
get a certificate. The best cabin yet for the night!

Sunday, April 15, 1951

A hot day & a rather disappointing one from the azalea standpoint.
Route: From Greenville S on U.S. 31 Georgiana, 106 to Midway,
47 to Awin 10 & 28 via Camden to Linden, 43 to Eutaw,
40 to Aliceville 17, 71 & 14 to Macon (& several side
excursions on dirt roads) 45 to Columbus for the night. Found
a lone alabamense in Butler Co. but practically nothing from
Monroe Co. on. Wilcox is part Red Hills which is poor but also
started the Black Belt area which has so far extended all the way to
Columbus. This is essentially loam on limestone & the valleys are thickly
Red Cedar populated the whole way. Only the higher ridges offer possibilities
for Azaleas & one such was struck in Greene Co. Others were searched
but to no avail. Azaleas are present but very much
scattered.

Monday, April 16, 1951

Across the river from Columbus, Miss. within 2 miles ran
into Azaleas with the start of the hills. With a few breaks was
with them most of the day. They are a very different Azalea
to those of the south — the color of canescens but with
more whites, often with yellow blotches & scent. The whole
lot must be surely referable to alabamense but how
different to the white alabamense of the south!
Route: U.S. 45 & Miss. to Amory. 25 blocked the
rest of the way so took Miss. 41 to U.S. 45 & on to
Tupelo, then U.S. 78 to Hamilton, Ala., & U.S. 43 till it
joined Ala. 18 in Fayette Co. Traveled 18 to Jasper for
the night. Azaleas are relatively abundant in Fayette
& Marion Cos. With Walker one has finally
left the coastal plain for the first really sharp hills.
Azaleas occur spottily. Will collect for the county
tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 17, 1951

Route: Jasper, Ala. N to Double Springs, 112 to Cullman
112 to Baileyton, S to Holly Pond, W on 128 to
Cullman, S on 69, back to Cullman & 8 mi. S on
U.S. 31 for the night.

Collected a rather curious mass in Winston Co. &
searched all Cullman for type locality specimens of
alabamense. Finally found them way on a hill
top south of town. The first time a whole day
has been spent in one county! But feel the reward
was worth while. It is distinct although it obviously
breeds freely with canescens. Will try for the same
thing in Marshall Co. tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 18, 1951

Route: many dirt roads today in a rather unrewarding search
for alabamense. From Cullman U.S. 31 S to Garden City
then macadam rd. E across a long covered bridge & a dirt
rd. "vertically" up the mountain side. A poor ride on very
bad track over the mountain then North in the next valley & back
to the macadam rd. to Blountsville. N. on Ala. 38 to U.S. 112,
E to Guntersville & S on U.S. 241 to Glencoe for the
night. Found alabamense in tight bud on hill near
Warrenton, overlooking the T.V. Lake. Much alabamense in
the canescens around Glencoe but no actual plants seen.
It is 2 — 3 weeks too early to catch very much. Hope for
better luck a few counties south.
P.S. alabamense of Warrenton is eglandular except for the
corolla tube, that of Cullman Co. was entirely glandular, even
to the petiole & leaf blades! It almost looks as if the
true center for the species is even west of Cullman Co.,
particularly since so many whites were showing up even in
Mississippi.

Thursday, April 19, 1951

Not much territory covered today — Glencoe to
Talladega via U.S. 241, with a 10 mile side trip to
Kentuck Fire Tower just west of Mount Cheaha ‸Cheaha (alt. 2402 ft.)
But it was a filthy morning & a drenching downpour from
ceaseless thunderstorms which had been busy all
throughout the night so that minor floods were everywhere
by daybreak. Made use of the occasion to settle down
in a barn & pack an overdue shipment of plants which
were compressed (with 1 box of specimens)from Anniston.
The afternoon search in the hills was for alabamense of
which no trace was seen — not even whites among the
canescens of the region. Will try again tomorrow.
Recd. telegram at Talladega frm Jim Nicholls so will
head toward Atlanta to meet him tomorrow evening at
a hotel.

Friday, April 20, 1951

Route: Ala. 48 to Wedowee, 37 to Roanoke, 63 &
Ga. 34 to Newnan Ga. 16 to Fayetteville, Ga. 97
& U.S. 29 to Atlanta. Good collecting most of the
way & saw the first speciosum just outside of
Nenman but it was more or less on private property
& I did not stop for it. Arrived at Atlanta
about 6:00 P.M.

Saturday, April 21, 1951

A second day in Atlanta. Nicholls did not arrive
until evening. Will see him for a while tomorrow. Unsuccessful
shopping trip in the morning for new corrugated driers. Also had
to buy a new tube for a dead tire on the truck. In afternoon
ran up to Marietta for a pleasant visit with W.P. Lemmon.
He is somewhat screwy in his azalea ideas but is keen & a
pleasure to talk to. On the way back to Atlanta was able to
pull in a mass collection of speciosum — canescens forms —
evidently interbreeding just as much as the rest. Speciosum
is a brilliant orange-scarlet. Want to see more of it
tomorrow.

Sunday, April 22, 1951

Breakfast & a long talk with Nicholls & Mrs Hayden so
did not leave Atlanta much before 11:00 A.M. Travelled
by way of U.S. 78 to Monroe, Ga. 11 to Monticello
(with a few side trips on dirt roads to bring in the counties
but found no cabin at Monticello. Retraced over Ga. 16 to
Jackson but there they were full. Finally wound up at an
exceedingly pleasant spot at Indian Springs on U.S. 41.
Collected Speciosum today & expect plenty again tomorrow.
Ran through intermittent showers all day & have rain
again tonight.

Monday, April 23, 1951

Route: Indian Springs to Jackson, then Ga. 16 via
Monticello & Sparta to a dirt rd. N of Warthen. E &
S via Deepstep to Ga. 24 & Louisville for the
night. Various other dirt rd. side excursions up Jackson
Lake etc. in search of Speciosum. Saw none, however
all day. With the exception of a 10 mi. stretch S. of
Sparta & around Sandersville most of the time was on
red clay hills & azaleas were scarce. Directly the
yellow sandy phase appeared they became plentiful.
Some canescens, however, collected in most counties.

Tuesday, April 24, 1951

Route: Louiseville & Wrens & Thomson via U.S. 1
& Ga. 17. To Augusta via U.S. 78 with detour
at Harlem up into Columbia Co. Dirt rd. cross cuts
to Ga. 56 at Augusta & unfruitful searches
along the river at the airport & above for speciosum.
Did not find high enough bluffs. Via 56
with good speciosum collecting near McBean.
Out to Waynesboro & since no cabins on to
Sylvania for the night. Plenty of canescens all
the way thoit is getting past bloom in this
section.

Wednesday, April 25, 1951

Route: Cross cut from Sylvania to Ga. 24.
Searched the river in this region but too flat.
Retraced to Stoney Bluff but bluffs too shallow &
too heavily wooded. Retraced for a late (2:30)
lunch in Sylvania. Ga. 21 to Newington &
back to Ga. 24. After much questioning of
natives decided to try Hudson's Ferry & up the
river a way eventually found speciosum again.
Intended to visit Clyo but the road mistakenly
led me back to Ga. 21 so came on to
Springfield for the night. Speciosum is plentiful
where it happens to occur which in this region is
always, apparently on the steep red clay bluffs
facing N. or N.E. Very different to its sunny positions
on flat ground around Atlanta.

Thursday, April 26, 1951

In the morning went via Ga. to Clyo & took
dirt rd. in to Sisters Ferry. Quite abandoned & road to
ferry proper is entirely overgrown. An old boy working on the
farm which owns it told me that he gave up the last
ferry there about 30 years ago. Gathered specimens & plant
from an orange "speciosum" near the top of the glen
leading to the ferry — probably off the actual plants
Mr. Lemon told me of & which might well be
descendants of those of Michaux's time. Follow the
bluff down river & made a mass collection of
fairly typical speciosum (though mostly a bit on the
orange side) 1/2 a mile away. Getting past their
bloom so it was not easy to find reasonably
good specimens. In afternoon packed plants &
specimens & visited with Mrs. Wilcox? of the
Casa Hotel with Mr. & Mrs. Reed to seed transplanted
speciosum at their place. A very nice show.
Second night at Springfield.

Friday, April 27, 1951

Mailed in compressed plants & specimens at
Savannah. Purchased labels & in afternoon
drove via U.S. 17 & S.C. 170 to Bluffton
for atlanticum. Was given a bad steer by a
Miss Martin & ended up at Ridgeland with
nothing. Took U.S. 21 to Beaufort & after
enquiry at a florist shop took a road S.W. out
of Burton & cut over toward the river's edge. In
oak woods found plenty of beautifully pink
atlanticum. Very vivid but non-glandular
shoots & leaves. Just at the height of its bloom.
Night at a cabin near Beaufort.

Saturday, April 28, 1951

Route: Circled Parris Island, then U.S. 21 & 17 to S.C. 61
just outside of Charleston, to Summerville & U.S. 176 (S.C. 31)
to Columbia. A few minor detours along the way but had
a successful day in collecting atlanticum frm Beaufort Co.
to Calhoun Co. with 3 mass collections and several canescens
besides. Visited a few minutes with the Hankinsons
in Columbia.

Sunday, April 29, 1951

Until the last half hour a singularly fruitless day!
Route: U.S. 76 N.W. for Columbia with detour to Ballentine via
Irmo, 76 & 276 to Greenville (with Sunday side excursions). U.S. 29
to Greer & S.C.s 101, 146, 92, & 9 via Woodruff, Cross Keys, &
Lockhart to Chester. No cabin so 321 to Winnsboro. No cabin,
so 213 via Ridgeway to Camden & all set for the night.
All day was on the red clay hills & not a sign of an azalea was
to be seen — in or out of bloom until just past Ridgeway when
first sand hills of the coastal plain appeared — and azaleas too.
Unfortunately it was past 7:00 pm & nearly dark but got a
fair representation of canescens. The red hills carry red cedar
all the way and test pH 7.0 — probably the explanation.

Monday, April 30, 1951

Route: To Camden, then S.C. 34, 341 & 309 via
Bishopville, Lynchburg to Lake City. U.S. 52 to Kingstree
& S.C. 377 & U.S. 571 to Georgetown for the night.
Two side tracks to the Lynchburg River & sundry other, usually
rather fruitless excursions along dirt roads.
Collecting was pretty good. A surprising amount of
canescens still in flower as well as mass collections
of atlanticum busily hybridizing with it. Have not yet
found what would be called a "pure" stand of atlanticum
— perhaps farther up the coast? Some of the hybrids, however
are large flowered & very pleasing from the ornamental
standpoint.