Out and About in the Arboretum

We already have seen a few blooms on the ‘Autumnalis’ Higan Cherry – a few warmer days recently resulted in these pretty petals. But nobody expected a snowstorm.

The Paperbark Maple earns its name because the bark of this tree curls up like a scroll, and when caught in the right light, can almost appear to glow.

As we enter the deepest part of winter, bare trees and shrubs can reveal hidden surprises, such as this bird nest. This humble abode was previously perfectly camouflaged.

The “knees” of the Bald Cypress trees at the Nature Center are adorned with festive Santa hats, which adds a touch of whimsy to this area of campus for the duration of December!

Majestic American Holly trees are found all around our campus. The rich red of the berries make an attractive contrast from the spiky green leaves and help celebrate this festive time of year.

Goshiki translates from Japanese as “5 colors” and with its intricately patterned leaves, it’s not hard to see how it got its name.