Out and About in the Arboretum

Always the first flower to bloom in the New Year is the snowdrop. They are readily found in our Atrium Garden. The snowdrops have many meanings and symbols associated with them. The delicate white of the snowdrop symbolizes innocence and purity. Because it is the first flower to bloom at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, it also symbolizes hope, which is always a wonderful feeling for all of us to embrace.

As you are out and about near the Wellness Center, please take a minute to enjoy the new photographic images posted on wall in the waiting area. These shots are from throughout the Arboretum and designed to bring some wonderful images of the Arboretum for folks to enjoy. Please take note in particular our favorite turtle who is represented in the Atrium garden.

With its ever present green holly-like foliage, fragrant yellow flowers in the spring and inky blue berries in the fall, leatherleaf mahonia, Mahonia bealei, adds year-round interest in Court 4 and Court 2 on the Medford Campus, as well as other areas.

Commonly called heavenly bamboo, Nandina domestica, is a broadleaf evergreen shrub that is grown for its interesting foliage and bright red berries. Native to Japan, China and India, this shrub is also at home here in the Barton Arboretum in a number of Courtyard Gardens, including Nine, Eleven and Twelve.

What a great way to begin the New Year! Why not make a visit to the Haddon Greenhouse, easily accessed from the Ground Floor of Haddon. The colors are sure to brighten your winter day with thoughts of spring and summer to come.

Right now is a great time to enjoy the many Poinsettia plants decorating areas of the Campuses. Poinsettias are native plants in Mexico, where they flower during the winter. These colorful plants are named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first Ambassador from the US to Mexico in 1825.