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Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve

of Medford Leas

February 26 to March 4, 2017 – The Beauty of Bark

The end of the winter and early spring are wonderful times to appreciate the bark of our specimen trees. Behind the beauty of the leaves and the blooms, the bark is a constant garden feature to enjoy.

The primary function of bark is to protect against weather elements, and defend against insects. Bark also offers distinct looks and texture as trees mature. Of particular note is the bark on the River Birch trees that you find at the entrance to the Lumberton Campus, and the River Birch that is featured in the Atrium as you enter the Medford Campus Community Building. The Chinese Seven-Sun Tree in Court 20 is another tree with a unique bark to enjoy.

[su_row][su_column size=”1/3″]Chinese Seven-sun Tree bark [/su_column][su_column size=”1/3″]River Birch bark, closeup [/su_column][su_column size=”1/3″]RiverBirchBark[/su_column] [/su_row]