There are a large number of Mountain Laurel(Kalmia latifolis) growing in this area. There is a huge one on the west side of GA20 south of the Mall of Ga and I-85 toward Lawrenceville.(About half-way between the first 2 traffic lights from I-85). Don't know if it's still visible from the highway, as that area has a lot of scrub timber growing along the roadside. Near it and closer to the road was a very large Witch Hazel that bloomed in late winter. The undisturbed woodlands there on both sides of the highway has a very large number of Mountain Laurel. I have some layered cuttings of them growing in pots, but aren't old enough to bloom. Many online nurseries offer them for sale. Have seen cultivars listed in Wayside Gardens catalog

I grow it and this year it bloomed for the first time. Wonderful! I attribute the blooms to having it in 4-6 hours of morning sun.

Buck Jones Nursery on Hwy 140 south of Canton has it for sale. Several different cultivars ("olympic fire" was one and "elf" was another that I remember). I believe they also carry the species in larger sizes.

Here is a link that might be useful: Buck Jones

I think I have Mountain Laurel all over the woods in my backyard which is on the slope of Blackjack Mountain in Cobb. Someone told me that it is Mountain Laurel. It has small very shiny green leaves and very tiny/small white flowers that bloom for about a week this time of year. It thrives and has spread into a pine island on a wooded bank, between my lot and the neighbors. Makes a good screen, and I am trying to encourage all the growth I can. Have been here 12 years, and have had new plants come up annually from the roots of the others or from seeds. Have to keep it trimmed to a small degree to make it look nice. Primarily, the large shoots/branches that grow from the top of the plants. A lot of it is around 7 feet in height. I saw some of the same plant at Red Top Mountain State Park on a Boy Scout camping trip a few years back, and was also told it was Mountain Laurel.

Thanks everyone! I'll have to head out to Buck Jones. I want this in my garden and also I'm working on a friends front garden and I know she'll love them too.

I bought some mountain laurel from Home Depot last year (Home Depot on Hwy. 78 in Snellville and off I-20 in Conyers), and they bloomed this spring. I bought four different varieties: Pink Charm, Sarah, Minuet and Alpine Pink.

Home Depot at I-85 and Old Peachtree had them last fall also.

Wonderful I'll keep my eyes open. Hmmm now where to put it?