8A | WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2018 | SIUSLAW NEWS
Siuslaw News
Community Voices
Natural Perspective —
A look beyond the blooms
By Emily J. Uhrig, Ph.D
Special to Siuslaw News
R
hododendron season is
here and our neighbor-
hoods are bright with
their blooms. Soon, it will be
time
for
the
annual
Rhododendron Festival cele-
brating those charming shrubs
that not only adorn our gar-
dens, but also grow wild
throughout our area.
With around a thousand
species, rhododendrons are a
diverse group of plants. Most
species are found in Asia, but
their natural range spans a large
portion of the globe, including
Oregon.
The most locally familiar
species is undoubtedly the
pink-flowered Pacific rhodo-
dendron that graces the sides of
Highway 101.
For residents of Florence,
the City of Rhododendrons, the
shrub we affectionately call the
‘rhody’ is a source of communi-
ty pride. However, in some
areas of the world, rhododen-
drons are unwelcome pests.
The British Isles, for
instance, spend millions of dol-
lars fighting invasive rhodo-
dendrons that, despite their
beauty, are harmful to native
plant ecosystems.
Another aspect of the
rhody’s darker side is its toxici-
ty. As a natural defense system,
many rhododendrons produce
grayanotoxins which affect the
nervous system and muscle
function.
Found in all parts of the
plant, the toxins can be fatal to
livestock. This may seem of lit-
tle concern for human health as
few folks tend to snack on
shrubbery.
However, grayanotoxins can
be found in honey made from
the nectar of rhododendron
flowers. This so-called ‘mad
honey’ has hallucinogenic, toxic
effects known since ancient
times. Over 2,000 years ago,
Persian troops intentionally
gave mad honey to their Roman
foes who consequently became
incapacitated and were easily
overwhelmed.
Today, mad honey is eaten
for its purported therapeutic
properties. Folks believe it alle-
viates a variety of ailments from
gastrointestinal issues to diabe-
tes.
One of its most popular uses
is for sexual enhancement.
While people partaking of mad
honey occasionally end up in
the hospital, there have been no
recent recorded fatalities thanks
to modern medicine.
Local honey lovers need not
be overly worried about prod-
ucts found in stores or farmer’s
markets. Outside of regions
where mad honey is intention-
ally produced (Turkey, for
instance), poisoning risks are
quite low.
As bees in most areas visit a
variety of plants, they are
unlikely to gather enough rho-
dodendron nectar for their
honey to have notable toxin
levels, and commercially pro-
duced products tend to blend
honey from different locations,
further diluting any potential
toxins.
So, as you enjoy the upcom-
ing rhody festivities, admire the
blooms, but know they do have
a somewhat darker side.
Notes from the Siltcoos —
Driving to distinction
By Barry Sommer
Special to Siuslaw News
Route 66 gets all the atten-
tion. America was built on Route
66. History was made on Route
66. The auto court was invented
on Route 66. You could get your
kicks on Route 66.
Big deal. It’s only a two digit
highway, real highways have
three numbers, like Oregon’s own
Highway 101.
Before the interstate highway
system was built, getting to your
destination meant travelling over
anything from an old logging
road to what used to be a foot or
animal trail. America’s roads
were mostly a patchwork of con-
nectors until after World War II,
when President Eisenhower
decreed the building of the inter-
state road system we know today.
Prior to the interstate road
system, the connecting of
America via the automobile (or
horse cart) started way back in
1806 when Thomas Jefferson
assigned surveyors to plot a route
between Cumberland, MD and
Wheeling, WV. This was just fine
until people decided they wanted
to travel beyond Cumberland
and Wheeling, so the National
Road was built in 1916, the first
road project done specifically for
the horseless carriage and the
first highway to bisect six states.
Soon to follow were the
demands for better roads, so the
Lincoln Highway was construct-
ed, a paved two-lane road that
spanned shore to shore, some
3,389 miles through no less than
15 states.
Business grew and thrived as
the conquering automobile creat-
ed opportunities and jobs in
every hamlet and town they
roared through. The west coast
was ripe for the intrusion of two
lanes along the water but the first
road along the Oregon coast had
yet to materialize.
To be named the Roosevelt
Coast Military Highway, it would
have been the first continuous
road along the Oregon coast. But
the feds did not match the 2.5M
bond measure passed by the peo-
ple’s vote, thus it died before it
was even born.
Forward to 1921 and con-
struction of what we know today
as the Oregon Coast Highway
begins. Finished in 1931, it was
400 miles of two-lane blacktop
(or packed gravel) that connected
all the coastal towns between
2018 Rhododendron Festival Court
Gold Beach and Astoria.
Eventually all the parcels and
pieces for a continuous coast
road were connected into one
grand south to north highway.
Now it was time to promote
those things that attract the trav-
eler and get them to empty their
wallets and purses.
Route 66 has the Uranus
Fudge Factory, we have Mo’s
Famous Clam Chowder. Pacific
Coast Highway, aka El Camino
Real has the Piedras Blancas
Elephant Seal Beach, we give our
sea lions not just a beach but
their own cave. One aspect of
Highway 101 lore that sets us
apart from all the other famous
roads is that if it gets too congest-
ed with traffic, you just turn
towards the beach and drive on
the sand. It’s true, the Oregon
coast itself is designated as a
highway. Just get an Oregon ORV
pass, a flag and you’re good to go.
Also, our Highway 101 hugs the
water for more miles than any
other west coast road, providing
beach views along almost its
entire length.
Four hundred miles of won-
derland sliced by bridged rivers
and creeks.
One word of advice; spend
more time out of the car than
inside it. There is just too much
to experience to be endlessly
strapped into a rolling computer.
Locally Owned & Operated
Stephanie
Matt
Cameran
Jack
Honesty • Quality • Integrity
Pest Tech Inc. is locally owned and operated.
We are dedicated to providing professional pest management solutions.
We service the greater Florence area, Central Oregon Coast and Southern
Oregon. Our team of friendly certifi ed technicians have the experience and
knowledge needed to help our customers with their pest control needs.
Give us a call to learn how we can help protect your home or business.
Coronation: Thursday, May 17th, 6:30pm
Florence Event Center 541-997-1994
Tickets $10 Adults, $6 Students
eventcenter.org
Area Chamber of Commerce
541-997-3781
509 Hwy. 101, Florence
PestTechInc.com
