Peter Cowen, headmaster at APA since 2011, highlighted to the Rotary Club of Kinston on Oct. 31 some of the reasons he feels Parrott is one of the best known and most accomplished private schools in Eastern North Carolina.
Nearing the 50th anniversary of its founding in 1964, APA has a student body of 731 students in grades pre-kindergarten, or transition, through 12. They come from a dozen counties in the region.
Forty-one percent of this year’s senior class began at Parrott,” Cowen said, adding the average tenure of APA’s faculty is 18 years.
Parrott, he said, stresses academic rigor, the value of which shows in test results — the SAT average at Parrott is 200 points better than the national average — and in college preparation. Scholarships awarded the Class of 2013 totaled more than $1 million, he said.
The school also promotes a “culture of service,” and upper-schoolers typically contribute 100 or more hours of assistance each year “to people in need,” even though such volunteerism isn’t a requirement for graduation. Cowen also touted the school as strong in the arts and in athletics, where, he said, sportsmanship is emphasized.
Cowen amplified this last point as he concluded.
“I personally believe,” he said, “that winning has become an American obsession. What about just taking part? What about the gains that come with athletics through camaraderie?”
Topiaries bring fresh greenery
Topiaries, which are plants trained into ornamental shapes, can be grown from many different materials, including rosemary.
Rosemary is a shrubby herb that is native to the Mediterranean. Its aromatic stems can be easily clipped and used fresh or dried in preparing roasted meats and Italian dishes.
It prefers a sunny location and dislikes extreme cold. It can be cultivated in a container as an attractive ornamental topiary during the winter or grown in the landscape.
Here are some tips to grow a rosemary plant into a welcome shape for your holiday decorations.
Begin with a rooted plant or take a cutting to root yourself. Rosemary roots easily from a 6-to-8-inch piece cut fresh from a growing tip. Remove the foliage on the lower 3 inches of the stem and dip in a rooting hormone to shorten the rooting process.
Carefully place the cutting in a container filled with a potting mix so the rooting hormone remains on the stem. Rooting takes place over 1 to 2 months depending on location and season.
As plants grow the shape is created by frequent pinching or clipping to produce bushy growth or removed to make openings. Patience is needed to grow a cutting into a bushy and compact form.
Rosemary can be shaped into many designs including hearts, balls, circles or cones. The gardener uses selective pruning to create the desired shape by removing stems or pinching where desired. Rosemary trimmings can be used in your favorite recipe.
A stake or support will need to be attached to the stem if making a tall, ball-shaped topiary. Attach the stem to the stake in several spots with tape or wire.
Allow the terminal shoot to grow to the desired height before cutting it to discourage upward growth. Grooming rosemary into a topiary can take many months, so dedication to the project is needed.
Rosemary does not like to be overwatered, so planting a rooted cutting in a clay pot will increase evaporation and also provide some extra weight for stability.
Avoid overwatering pots by allowing the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. In the landscape make sure rosemary has excellent drainage.
Peg Godwin is horticulture agent, Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Center, 1791 N.C. 11/55, Kinston, NC 28504. Reach her at 252-527-2191 or Peg_Godwin@ncsu.edu or 252-527-2191.