I don't have to wonder my duty,
it's an earnest attempt to see the beauty,
and understand the rules of this fleeting chance,
infinite consideration paid in advance.
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Delaware Valley White azalea is a small to medium, acid loving, single, profusely flowering, small leaved shrub to 4 foot in height and slightly wider. Because of its small leaves it's not an easy plant to keep attractive before and after blooming as are other azaleas, but in the third week of March in South Louisiana it will make you proud with more than its share of pure white single flowers. Azaleas do best in part shade on sandy acidic soil under Longleaf Yellow Pine Trees which have long tap roots resembling that of a human tooth. These deep rooted pines don't compete with shallow rooted azaleas for moisture, as they absorb water from deeper stratum of earth. Benefiting from the moisture retaining pine needle leaf shed twice a year which acidifies the soil, the Azaleas likewise benefit the pines as a living mulch, and trap for air born organic matter and dust which feeds both plants. Groupings of both pines and azaleas are often done at the same time. Plant azaleas early spring and don't let them dry out the first season, this is the key to growing azaleas. After establishment Delaware Valley White and most other azaleas are drought tolerant in the Southeastern U.S..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azalea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_palustris
