Out and About in the Arboretum

Magnolia kobus, commonly known as Kobus magnolia, is one of the earliest trees to bloom. It is noted for its goblet-shaped fragrant white flowers which open at the very end of March before the foliage emerges.

Taxodium distichum, commonly called bald cypress, is a long-lived, pyramidal conifer which grows 50-70′ tall. Although it looks like a needled evergreen in summer, it is deciduous, or “bald” in winter as the name suggests. When growing in damp conditions, distinctive knobby root growths known as “knees” often protrude around the base of the tree.

If you visit the Medford Leas Meditation Garden you will enjoy a bit of early spring color with the Winter Wolf’s Bane (also called Winter Aconite) coming into bloom. A member of the Eranthus genus, its small cup-shaped flowers, which sit on fans of bright green leaves, open at the first hint of warmth.

On Sunday, March 10, Debbie Lux, Medford Leas Horticulturalist, and Jane Weston, Director of Development and Community Relations, will be out and about at the Philadelphia Flower Show representing the Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve of Medford Leas.

Cornus officinalis, commonly called Japanese cornel dogwood, is native to China, Japan and Korea, but it can easily be found in our Medford Campus Community Building parking lot. This tree is known for its early bloom, and attractive bark. The yellow flowers are just about to pop open this week. The flowers are followed in fall by red fruits…

The Medford Campus Farmers are particularly excited and pleased to see the installation of a new deer fence to prevent the deer from invading their gardens. Rob Benner, the Benner Deer Fence Company, has been on Campus working on this project in conjunction with our resident Farmers.