June 20, 2013
The
Fires Creek trip had its ups and downs (pun intended).
Jack
had warned us the Stewartias might not be in bloom. They almost always
bloom on the summer solstice, but nearly everything has bloomed late this
year. Sure enough, we saw only buds.
There
were logistical challenges:
- A bridge out near
the entrance to the park caused a long detour/rerouting.
- The creek was more
swift than usual and not appropriate for the "wading" we'd
expected. Many in the group did make the first crossing but other
crossings were too swift.
- There were also the challenges of how to shuttle people in a limited number of cars to move us to trails where we might access Stewartias without crossing the creek.
Through
it all, Jack remained calm and organized and told us about Stewartias.
They
are named for the Earl of Stuart, friend of King George III (never mind the
spelling).
Members
of the Tea family, there are 2 Stewartias native to the US:
- Stewartia
malacodendron, Silky Camellia which occurs mainly on the coastal plain but
is hardy in our area.
- Stewartia ovata,
Mountain Camellia which occurs mainly in the Appalachians and Piedmont.
Other
Stewartias: 1 Korean, 2 Japanese, 3 Chinese.
Relatives
are Franklinia, Gordonia and a hybrid of the two called Gordlinia.
Seeds
take 2 to 3 years to germinate, and growth during the first year is only about
2 inches.
Jack
thinks the root systems of some Stewartia may be as much 500 years old.
New sprouts could live for 80 to 100 years, to be replaced by newer ones.
The
largest grow on stream banks which provide moisture and gaps in the tree canopy
to let in light. Rocky bluffs also provide canopy gap for light and are
good habitat for Stewartias. Trees that like the same conditions are maple,
sourwood, pine and rhododendron.
As
Karen’s photos show, the leaves are not very distinct. They are very hard to distinguish among other
trees. The ridged, furrowed bark is more distinct. But it’s the beautiful
blooms that really set them apart.
Jack
is passionate about Stewartias, and his passion is infectious. We all had a wonderful day and gained a new
appreciation of our Mountain Camellia. I
vote that we plan another trip next year – on the summer solstice.
A
final note: Jack’s Virginia friends are
hunters of Champion (i.e. largest) Trees.
While they were in our area, they identified 14 new Champions –
including a Stewartia Ovata at Fires Creek!
