Winter thoughts have faded, brown gray hues given way to the lush green of the mountains. Wildlife, asleep for so long, it seems, make their way through springtime, establishing and re-establishing routine and rituals. Bird song flourishes. Forsythias end their introducion to the season. Nature is busy.Always a surprise, the mountain laurel makes its debut this poetically perfect morning, decorating the forest realm with rose white crown jewels. Clusters of delicate flowers define the sturdy bush and I am in love.

Mountain laurel's common name is kalmia latifolia and its other botannical name is calico bush. This evergreen shrub prefers soil that is well-drained or clay. It does well in full shade, actually prefers it. The leaves are poisonous but the flowers attract birds and butterflies. The mountain laurel is closely related to the azalea and rhododendren and all three belong to the heath family. The glossy deep green leaves give life to the forest in every season.

Because the leaves of the mountain laurel are toxic, it is said that Native Americans of yore used it as a death potion. Young, broken-hearted Indian maidens would eat the leaves because they no longer wanted to live without the one they loved. The fresh root was used by Native Americans to carve spoons because the root would dry into the shape of a spoon.

Of course now Laurel is a popular name for a girl. She must be lovely for her namesake surely is.

Several states honor the mountain laurel with a festival. In May, Pineville, Kentucky goes all out to celebrate its beauty. It is the oldest festival of its kind. Clarkesville, Georgia has a similar festival. There's something about those little rosy blossoms that garners hope for the abundant summer it seems to foretell.

The mountain laurel inspires the musical muse as well. From Bluegrass, to Celtic, to Folk, musicians have chosen to name their bands after the forest beauty. All in all, it's made quite an impression. And it's easy to fall in love.

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