Out and About in the Arboretum

The peak fall color of this tree is coming, but it’s fun to highlight the process now, ahead of time, so you can enjoy the change of color as we move through the weeks ahead. The Japanese Cutleaf Maple, Acer palmatum ‘Coral Bark,’ is located near the intersection of Estaugh and Medford Leas Way on the Medford Campus. As we get towards the end of October, you will note its brilliant golden leaves. As winter comes and goes, you will enjoy the intense and brilliant color of the coral bark on the young branches.

We are all very pleased to share with you our refreshed and invigorated Atrium Garden in the Medford Campus Community Building. The focus was on highlighting our existing specimen trees, adding in new understory plantings, and correcting the fountain and waterfall so that it runs smoothly for all to enjoy. The turtles are settling into their new home and the fish seem to be delighted.

Pinus densiflora “Draconis”, otherwise known as Dragon’s Eye Pine, is a wonderful specimen to enjoy in the Pinetum on the Medford Campus. This specimen offers a number of distinctions: on a sunny day, the brilliant lime-green color is amazing, and the banding of green and yellow needles is said to resemble a dragon’s eye. The exfoliating bark adds yet another texture for us to appreciate.

A sign of fall coming is the show of violet colored berries that are beginning to appear on Beautyberry, Callicarpa dichotoma. This rounded, deciduous shrub is a native to our area and the birds surely enjoy it. Once the cooler weather settles in the birds will feast on the berries until every last one of them is gone. Just one warning, if you plant this in your garden, you may find it to be so happy there that it can spread easily within your garden.

You may want to take a visit to Court 20 on the Medford Campus to enjoy the Chinese Seven-Sun Tree, Heptacodium miconioides. This fountain-shaped tree features clusters of fragrant, creamy-white flowers in late summer to early fall. Flowers appear in clusters, with each containing seven tiny flowers (hence the common name). Exfoliating bark adds another layer of interest. This plant, native to China, is rare; but we are pleased to have one in our collection. The butterflies love it as well as a wonderful source of nectar as we come into the fall season.

The Medford Leas Flower Show is a well-known tradition to our community. This year is no different, except that it will be a more “casual” show as compared to other years. The traditional show has been renamed an “Exhibit” to let folks know this is not a formal judged show, as has long been the tradition. The most important thing that will remain the same is the ability this exhibit gives residents and staff to share the best of their floral and vegetable crops, in addition to showcasing the talents of our resident floral arrangers.