Mount Rogers
Virginia
July 2011
We start up the Rhododendron Trail which leads to Rhododendron Gap. There’s a certain symmetry in that, don’t ya think. The Rhododendron Trail follows a wagon road over the hill but we are on a re-route. My guess is this new section was built to let the land recover from erosion caused by too many footfalls.
We move through vast fields of some red berry, unnamed rock outcroppings in the distance. Reading the Plant Fact Sheet published by the U S Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, I see this: “Warning: Red elderberry fruit may be toxic when taken internally without sufficient preparation.” I will caution you not to try to eat the unnamed rock outcroppings as well. While not toxic, eating these rocks may be harmful.
Plants abound. I can’t identify many of them. I try calling the officials.
Conversation #1…
“Forest Service. This is Louise.”
“Hi, Louise. I was just in your area and I’m wondering if you might be able to help me identify a plant I saw.”
“Probably not.”
“Um, is there someone I could talk with about this?”
“Yeah, probably.”
“Um… Who might that be?”
“You need to talk with Jay. He’s the botanist.”
“Oh, good. Would you get him on the line?”
“He’s not here today.”
“When will he be here?”
“Tomorrow, maybe. You could try tomorrow.”
“Okay. Bye.”
Conversation #2, the next day…
“Forest Service. This is Louise.”
“Hi, Louise. I’m wondering if Jay is in.”
“No.”
“Um… Do you know when he will be in?”
“No.”
“Okay, I’ll call back later.”
“All right.”
Conversation #5, fifth day…
“Forest Service. This is Louise.”
“Put Jay on the line.”
“Okay.”
Finally! Here’s Jay. He is very pleasant and helpful, and Jay is the one who identifies the red berry plant as red elderberry. Because of this, Jay is my new best friend. But don’t eat the elderberry.
