Out and About in the Arboretum

The brilliant red berries of the native shrub, Winterberry, Ilex verticillata, are like a cheerful greeting. At present they give us a beautiful show of color and come winter, these berries will be a wonderful feast for the birds to enjoy.

Along Estaugh Way on the Medford Campus, across from the silo, you will likely note the group of Bur Oaks, Quercus macrocarpa, along the side of the road. These native trees feature significantly sized acorns – the largest of any North American oak.

As we move further into the month of October, we can take pause to enjoy the brilliant yellow blooms of the Goldenrod in the Lumberton Campus Meadow.

This week, the gardens were refreshed in Courtyards 18 and 23, and they are looking great! Several of the larger specimens and plants were maintained while some new plantings were added.

The Paw Paw tree is currently bearing fruit, which is similar in taste to a banana or pear with a custard consistency. The tree is also a wonderful host for the zebra swallowtail butterfly .

A fan favorite at the time of year is Callicarpa dichotoma, commonly known as beautyberry. This small, rounded, shrub, and is now offering its showy fall display of lilac-violet berries.