Evergreen shrub 3 – 9 feet tall. All parts are deathly poisonous to several animals, like horses, humans, deer, cattle and sheep… but NOT to dogs or cats! First noted in America in 1624. The Latin name is after Pehr Kalm, who sent samples of it to Linnaeus in the 1700s. Blueberry family. Native to the eastern U.S. (Thanks to A.F. Donna for sending me out after this one!)
Mountain Laurel, Spoonwood, Calico Bush, Lambkill (Kalmia latifolia)
What a beautiful and unusual blossom! I don’t think I have ever seen that one before. Can’t help wondering how we found out that it is deadly poison to particular species and not to others.