Out and About in the Arboretum

Check out Court 28 on the Medford Campus to see a living laboratory of monarch butterflies as they emerge from their chrysalis. This court is home to a number of native milkweed plants which attract the monarch butterflies. As the eggs on the milkweed plants hatch, they form caterpillars, who have a very busy time eating the milkweed and growing very quickly. The caterpillars then form their chrysalises, which protect them. Shortly before emerging, the chrysalis will appear transparent and sometimes you can clearly see the distinctive patterns of the wings.

A flowering ornamental that can stand up to the dog days of August is the Hydrangea paniculata, commonly called panicle hydrangea. The white blooms will carry us into the early fall season. This vigorous, upright shrub is native to China and Japan. You can find it in full bloom on the Medford Campus in the Atrium, to the left as you enter the Community Building.

Always a fan favorite, the Crape Myrtle trees, are now in full bloom giving us pops of vibrant pink color throughout the Arboretum. These bursts of vibrant color thrive in the heat of the season.

We all enjoy the benefits of trees, especially in the summer months, as we are out and about in the Arboretum. As you move along the pathway from the Community Building on the Medford Campus towards the Bridlington neighborhood, you will enjoy the cooling shade and impact of a number of different trees.

Flower Power is alive and well in Court 13 on the Medford Campus. As you are out and about in the Arboretum, you may enjoy the vibrant colors of the echinacea. Commonly known as Coneflowers, these members of the daisy family are now in bloom. You are sure to enjoy the colorful blooms which hold up very well to the heat.

A meadow can be described as a field habitat consisting primarily of grasses and other non-woody plants. These ecosystems play a crucial role in the well-being of nature. Within the Arboretum we are fortunate to have two Meadow areas, one on each Campus. The Meadows provide shelter for animals that are unable to seek refuge in trees, such as rabbits and land-dwelling birds. In addition, the insects that find homes in the Meadows are often pollinators that grow amongst the grasses.