Georgia Magazine - November 2024 - 4

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GEORGIA Gardens
Story and photos by Erica Glasener
10 trees
for Georgia's
autumn
landscape
F
all is an ideal time to enjoy and plant trees in
Georgia. While it's hard to go wrong with a
majestic oak or an American beech, it's all
about the right tree for the right place.
Here are 10 outstanding selections for both
large and small landscapes.
1. Japanese maples, selections of Acer
palmatum, are elegant trees suited to many garden
styles, from formal to those that are more natural.
Depending on the cultivar, the leaves can be
three-lobed or finely dissected, almost like lace.
styles, from formal to those that are more natural.
three-lobed or finely dissected, almost like lace.
In autumn certain selections turn brilliant shades
In autumn certain selections turn brilliant shades
Acer palmatum 'Ryusen' is a variety of
Japanese maple that has a distinct weeping form and
green palmate leaves that turn bright red to deep
orange in late fall, usually November and early
December. When the central trunk is staked to a
height of 4 feet it makes a dramatic focal point in the
garden. It can grow 5 feet to 6 feet over 15 years and
works well for narrow spaces.
2.Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku,' also known as
the Coral Bark maple, grows to a height of up to
25 feet. The leaves turn golden-yellow in the fall,
providing a striking contrast to the bright-red bark. If
planted in deep shade, the red coral-colored bark
will fade.
3. The white flowers of Amelanchier arborea
'Autumn Brilliance,' also known as Downy Serviceberry,
are among the first to bloom in spring. In
summer it has blue-green foliage and small, edible
fruits that taste like blueberries (if you can get to
them before the squirrels do). Depending on the
individual tree, fall color can be yellow, red or
brilliant orange. With its smooth, gray bark in winter,
this beauty offers interest during every season.
Serviceberry grows quickly and is a small, multi16
Georgia Magazine October 2024
16-18-36_Gardens_1024.indd 16
Japanese maple that has a distinct weeping form and
In autumn certain selections turn brilliant shades
of crimson, yellow, red and orange.
, are elegant trees suited to many garden
From THE EDITOR
Comments from our readers * Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett
My heart goes out to so many people
ISTOCK.COM / DOLE08
In appreciation of native species
I always enjoy Georgia Magazine, but when I read the
Together, the Japanese maple and the Bald cypress create
beautifully contrasting fall foliage.
stemmed tree or can be trained to be a single trunk that reaches 20 feet to
25 feet at maturity.
4. The native Carya glabra, or the Pignut hickory, is best suited for
large properties, where it can develop to its full potential. The leaves turn
brilliant yellow in the autumn and even sometimes yellow-orange, usually
in late October or November. Resilient and easy to grow with a taproot, it is
best to start with a young, container-grown tree. This species is not
cultivated for its nuts as the seeds are bitter. Instead, plant it for shade and
a food source for birds and small mammals. It will grow to 50 feet to 60 feet
tall with a spread of 25 feet to 35 feet. Plant it in full sun or part shade in
well-drained soil. Once established, it can tolerate periods of drought.
5. Cladrastis kentuckea (formerly known as lutea), or Yellowwood,
is an elegant tree in every season. This uncommon native, which grows
30 feet to 50 feet tall, starts out with bright green foliage, which often turns
golden in the autumn. Its silhouette and smooth, gray bark bring beauty to
the winter. In spring, it offers wisteria-like, fragrant, white flowers. If you
start with a young tree, be patient; it may take a few years for it to bloom.
6. Cotinus obovatus, also known as the native American smoketree,
article " 10 trees for Georgia's autumn landscape, " I was
disappointed to see non-native Japanese maples listed as the
No. 1 tree. [See Georgia Gardens, October 2024, page 16;
bit.ly/10gatrees.]
Non-native trees contribute little or nothing to the
is a good choice for a small tree with outstanding fall color. Reaching 20 feet
to 30 feet in height at maturity, the tree has red, orange and yellow leaves
that glow in the landscape. During the summer, the foliage is a handsome
ecosystem, while native trees like the Eastern redbud (Cercis
canadensis) and fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) are host
plants for butterflies and moths, whose caterpillars feed the songbirds.
If you love having birds and butterflies in your yard, stick with native trees for
9/11/24 1:24 PM
Above: Ferns from around the globe, many collected
by the late George Sanko, botanist professor
at Georgia Perimeter College, attract visitors to the
Georgia State University Perimeter campus.
your landscaping.
-Jackie Miller, Lithia Springs
After Helene rolled through
I just finished reading the " Pinewood heritage " article
by Pamela A. Keene in the October issue. [See page 30;
bit.ly/pineheritage.] It was a wonderful article about Claire
Shelton Lee and her journey into forestry.
I wondered if there could be a follow-up in a future
edition, since we had the devastating Hurricane Helene roll
over us, with hope that she and her forests have mostly
endured a huge potential hardship. Fingers crossed.
-John Steinkraus, Cleveland
We truly appreciate all the hard
work to get our power back on. Thank you
from residents on Bill Savage Road in Lula.
-The Ferris family, via email
this month on the heels of Hurricane
Helene and the widespread destruction it
caused to our state and the Southeast. As
of press time, Hurricane Milton just had
passed across Florida, too, causing even
more devastation.
I am thankful to work in the electric
cooperative (EMC) industry, where
we have the absolute best folks working
around the clock to rebuild our decimated
electric system. Once one co-op had its
system restored, it would send linemen
and other personnel to other EMCs that
still needed help. EMCs and contractors
from other states came to our aid, too.
This is Cooperation Among Cooperatives
-the sixth co-op principle-at work, and
it is heartwarming to see in action.
The outpouring of love and support
from our EMC members also has been
amazing. Thank you for showing up with
food and drinks for linemen, sharing
handmade artwork and notes of
appreciation for EMC staffers and
providing encouragement during these
tough times. Georgia's EMCs also
appreciate your patience as the crews
navigate dangerous conditions to reset
broken poles, rebuild cross-arms and
restring power lines, among other tasks
to restore power. See page 14 for some
of these stories.
Once the lights are back on for everyI
found myself with some
time during our recent outage
after Hurricane Helene and
decided to put my thoughts and
feelings on paper (or iPad). My
wife and I are grateful for your
dedication to get us back online
as quickly as possible during
such a trying time.
This work is a digital watercolor
effect done in Procreate
and depicts a scene repeated
countless times in our area and
around the state. Keep it to
remind you that what you do
matters. God bless you.
-Roger C. Byrd, Oconee EMC member, Dublin
Share your thoughts. Email us at magazine@georgiaemc.com. Please include your name, address
and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
4 Georgia Magazine November 2024
Jennifer J. Hewett
Editor
one again, our communities have a lot of
rebuilding ahead. Our resilience will be
strong if we continue working together.
One of the hardest-hit industries
after Helene has been our agricultural
community. Georgia EMC has partnered
with more than 40 organizations in the
Weathered, But Strong: Hurricane Relief
Fund, which will provide direct assistance
to Georgia farmers for damages to crops,
livestock and farm infrastructure. Learn
more at supportgeorgiafarmers.org.
We have a lot of inspiring articles this
month, and I hope this issue brings some
encouragement. Happy Thanksgiving to
you and your family!
Enjoy!
W
Pinewood heritage
W
Claire Shelton Lee walks
through the family tree
farm with her cousin
Richard Shelton, who
serves as the company's
secretary/treasurer and
corporate attorney.
Tree farmer Claire Shelton Lee carries forward her family's legacy
By Pamela A. Keene
hen Claire Shelton Lee worked as security manager for Macy's in the '80s
in Atlanta, her family's 6,000-acre tree farm in South Georgia was the
furthest thing from her mind. A graduate of Valdosta State University's
criminal justice program, she thought she had found her life's work.
" My daddy [George Shelton Jr.]
and his brother, Tom, managed the
property and had their own careers,
too, " she says. " Things were different
in the '60s, '70s and '80s when it came
to growing trees. They weren't
foresters; it was like a weekend job
for them. "
Everything changed when her
father died in 1987. Her uncle was left
to manage the land, and he was in his
70s with failing health. It eventually
fell to Lee, the youngest of three sisters, to take over
managing the property. It didn't come easy.
" I loved my job in Atlanta, but it was a real eyeopener
when my father passed, " she says. " My sisters
both had families with small children, and I had
more flexibility to move back to South Georgia, but I
didn't have any idea about growing trees or forestry. "
She enrolled in the Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural College (ABAC) School of Forestry in
Tifton and three years later earned associate degrees
in forestry and wildlife.
" I was ready to come back home and continue
our family's legacy, and my uncle asked me to take
over Shelton Land Co., " she recalls.
A family's investment
Georgia is
consistently ranked
the No. 1 forestry
state in
the nation.
Longleaf pines grow tall and straight, making
them a good source for utility poles.
30 Georgia Magazine October 2024
18-19_GA_Tree_Farms_1024.indd 30
captions
9/11/24 10:23 AM
The farm began more than 125 years ago, when
her great-grandfather, Cowper Irby Shelton,
purchased the land to produce turpentine. To
generate income and to meet a demand for
lumber in the early 20th century, he began
leasing his land to timber companies.
In 1948, when Georgia became part
of the American Tree Farm System-the
oldest family-forest certification program
in the U.S.-her grandfather, George Shelton
Sr., was among the first to join the Georgia Tree
Farm (GTF) Program.
" When my grandfather joined the Georgia Tree
TOMMY WALTON / FUEL FILMS CO.
ALAN MOTHNER PHOTOGRAPHY
MIKE GREGORY / GEORGIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION

http://www.ISTOCK.COM http://bit.ly/10gatrees http://bit.ly/pineheritage http://www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org

Georgia Magazine - November 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - November 2024