Out and About in the Arboretum

The Crape Myrtle specimens are coming into bloom, giving us a vibrant shot of color throughout the Arboretum. These bursts of color start earlier in warmer climates, but the beginning of August is typical for our Burlington County location. These blooms thrive in the heat of the summer. Following the bloom, small brown seeded fruits form and remain through the fall and winter season.

The Medford Campus Farm is having an incredible year. Our residents have been practicing physical distancing as they tend their plots and the rewards keep coming in. Currently the Jersey tomatoes are coming on strong, as well as zucchini, corn and loads of colorful flowers and herbs. The bees and the butterflies are having a super season.

Court 16 on the Medford Campus is proof positive that you can have a thriving colorful garden in the shade. The hydrangea, begonias and Japanese Maple all give color to this woodlands style garden.

Pink and white are the colors of Court 15 on the Medford Campus this week. It is worth it to make a trip out to enjoy the Echinacea, coneflowers, and the Abelia x grandiflora. The combination of the tall and proud coneflowers, alongside the Abelia is a wonderful treat for the eyes.

Vitex agnus-castus, Vitex or Chaste-tree is a wonderful tree for the heat of this time of the year! The cool-colored lavender blue spikes provide a wonderful show of color. Don’t let the graceful almost delicate appearance fool you. This tree is tough as nails and can stand up to drought and high temperatures, making it a perfect tree for a typical New Jersey July!

As we head into the heat of the summer season, we can always count on Silphium perfoliatum, commonly known as the cup plant to brighten our day. This sunflower-like plant is tough and strong, easily tolerant of the heat and drought. If you take a close look, you will see that the leaves of the plant come together in pairs to envelope the stem, forming a cup. The cups collect whatever rain may come our way.