Out and About in the Arboretum

The lineage of the gingko may be traced back 200 million years or more. Originally from China, fortunately in the early 1700’s European visitors brought seeds home to grow, and from there they were brought to the US. Ginkgo biloba, Maidenhair tree, is an upright tree that often reaches 50 feet in height. Because of its resilience, it is often used as a street tree.

Red Maple “October Glory” is a native Maple tree that is known for its exceptional fall color. It is often planted as a specimen tree, and there are a number of these trees on both Campuses of Medford Leas.

Winterberry, Ilex verticillata, is a deciduous shrub native to our area. Right now you can enjoy the red berries that have been produced, and the birds will soon be flying in to feast on them.

Larry Weaner Associates (LWA) is on site this week to work on planting of perennials and wildflowers in the Meadow. We are pleased to see this project, sponsored by the Arboretum Fund, move along. We look forward to years ahead of increased wildlife and native plants for all to enjoy.

Don’t panic! Though we call them “evergreens,” conifers such as pine, arborvitae, and spruce lighten their load of old needles at this time of year, with a show of yellowing or browning and dropping of needles that can scare a bystander at first. But needle-drop is a normal part of the life cycle, though the rate varies by species.

Malus x scheideckeri ‘Red Jade,’ the weeping crabapple, is a magnificent specimen tree. We see it in the Atrium of the Medford Campus Community Building, where it welcomes us with a burst of red color of the fruit that has recently matured. It provides a wonderful show of white blooms in the spring, and now we can enjoy the abundant fruit and unusual weeping shape. Enjoy!