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Papa’s hearty hibiscus: A true American flower
Ray Parker and dinner-plate hibiscus
Ray Parker shows his "dinner plate" hibiscus. (Photos by Nichole Buchanan/Effingham Herald.)
Published: Jul 2, 2024, 6:20 PM

By Ray Parker, for the Effingham Herald

The Hardy Hibiscus is a native of North America. It has its Asians cousins, the Tropical Hibiscus, but this is a full-blooded American species. Its other name is Rose Mallow Hibiscus, or Hibiscus Moscheutos, sometimes called “dinner plate” hibiscus because of its size.

It is a hybrid from the “swamp hibiscus” that grows in low swampy areas all across America. The wild ones are usually smaller than those that have been crossed many times from the different areas and zones.

One of the earliest registered Hardy Hibiscus was “Lady Baltimore” by Robert Darby in 1955. The Fleming brothers of Lincoln, Nebraska took a leading hand in the hybridizing process for many years. They are referenced as Hardy, it seems like most of the hybridizing has taken place in the northern part of the United States: Maryland, Nebraska, and Michigan. Southern breeding has been a slow process. This Hibiscus is a deciduous shrub, meaning it will die back to the ground in winter. It rapidly grows back to its original height in a couple months of warm weather. Since its origins are swampy areas, it doesn’t need to really dry out, so keep it hydrated.

Colors range from white, pink, and red. Now think of taking a paint palette and mixing those basic colors. Swirl in a little white with red, you may get several shades of pink, take pink and red, mix more red or more pink…see the color range you can get just from three basic colors. Think of the paint store and all the shades of those three colors in the color charts? Interesting, isn’t it?

Hibiscus
As a plant person, I was raised on a truck farm in Hiltonia, Georgia. Back then it was vegetables; but as a young kid with mom we always had some flowers. In the fall and winter, we roamed the woods looking for dogwoods, redbuds, pink honeysuckles (native azalea). We would normally have a row of Zinnias and Marigolds in the summertime. There were several years between those years with mom, and finding a flower I really got fully involved with, the Daylily. From the early 90’s until a couple years ago, Daylilies was my flower of choice. I swapped pollen for 20 years or so, hybridizing, selling, showing. I was a show judge, a garden judge, and had a display garden here in Effingham County.

For several years I have grown Hardy Hibiscus. Four years ago, I decided to try my hand at swapping pollen for this new flower. And low and behold, it worked better than I thought, “Hooked again”. A few seeds turned into hundreds. A few plants, into the hundreds. They are beautiful when they bloom, but it takes lots of work. Any garden project, if you are a real gardener, takes lots of time, energy, and love of the job.

The best place for a Hardy Hibiscus is planted in the ground. But many people like to keep them in pots, near a patio, pool, or porch. That is fine, but remember they need deep watering, fertilizing, and sunshine. Don’t fret when they die with the first frost. Cut them off about 3-4 inches from the ground, cover with straw, or mulch, if it's a dry winter don’t forget water. When spring comes, fertilize, water, and watch them grow.

[Ray Parker is a backyard gardener in south Guyton.]
Effingham Schools Approve Property Tax Rate Increase
School Property Tax Rate Increase
Comparison of the property tax impact for Effingham County homeowners under the approved millage rate increase, showing the difference from fiscal year 2025 to 2026.
Updated: Sep 19, 2025, 12:52 AM
Published: Sep 19, 2025, 12:53 AM

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — The Effingham County Board of Education unanimously approved raising the property tax rate from 16.5 to 18.45 mills. For a homeowner with a $350,000 property, that’s about $22 more per month. The vote was 5-0.

Why the Increase is Needed
District officials said the adjustment is necessary to cover rising costs and remain competitive in attracting and retaining teachers and staff. More than 87% of the district’s budget goes to salaries and benefits for employees ranging from classroom teachers to bus drivers, nurses, counselors, paraprofessionals, and administrators.

Most of the increase is tied to an $8 million spike in required contributions to state benefit plans.

The state’s health and retirement benefits for certified employees — teachers — are going up 7% in 2026, finance director Lauren Cain, said. Benefits for non-certified employees — staff — are rising 36%. That’s a total of $8 million more in health and retirement benefits the district will have to cover.

Although the state is increasing funding to Effingham schools by $4 million, it will cover only about half the benefits hike, she said.

As of July 1, premiums for the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) have nearly doubled since FY2023, jumping from $945 to $1,885 per month per employee. In addition, the district’s contribution rate to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) has increased from 20.78% to 21.91%.  

To help offset those rising costs, the district voted to raise the millage rate.

Millage Rate

Balancing Costs & Education
Superintendent Yancy Ford previously called the increase “an investment in every child’s future.” He said, “Smaller class sizes, highly qualified teachers, and strong support staff are all proven to raise student achievement. This millage rate increase allows us to continue building on our successes and to make sure every child in Effingham County has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”

Ford also acknowledged the strain on taxpayers. “We don’t want to put the taxpayers in this position next year,” he said. He promised to “dissect the budget” and search for ways to “lower costs” while still doing what’s best for students. “We know people are feeling it,” he added.

Fiscal Accountability & Academic Record
While the millage rate itself rises about 11.5%, higher property values mean overall revenue collections will increase nearly 26%. School leaders say the additional funds will help preserve Effingham’s strong academic record, which includes a 90.7% graduation rate, above-average reading scores in elementary grades, and SAT results that top both state and national averages.

Ford  emphasized accountability in managing taxpayer funds. Every dollar from this millage rate increase is an investment directly tied to student learning, he said.

Effingham Schools recently earned a 4.5 Financial Efficiency Star Rating from the Georgia Department of Education, ranking fourth out of 180 school systems statewide.

Public Concerns
About 20 residents attended the final public hearing before the vote. Several property owners, retirees on fixed incomes, and business owners voiced frustration over rising appraisals, cost of living increases, and tax abatements for industry.

Historical Millage Rate Chart

Looking Ahead: ESPLOST Vote

Looking ahead, the district is preparing to ask voters in November to approve another ESPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). If passed, funds would go toward capital projects such as facility upgrades and technology improvements.