Out and About in the Arboretum

At the end of May, six Ilex x attenuata, “Longwood Gold,” were planted between the rear of the Lois Forrest Nature Center and Rushmore Building 64 on the Medford Campus. This tree is a natural hybrid of two North American species of holly. Longwood Gold is from seed collected at the Morris Arboretum. It has dark green leathery foliage that doesn’t fade during the winter, providing a contrast for the vivid yellow berries.

Just this past week, seven Flowering Dogwood trees, Cornus florida, were planted along the Railroad Right of Way on the Medford Campus. These trees will mature over the years to give us blooms in the spring for years to come. Dogwood, with its graceful branches, delicate blossoms and crimson fall foliage, is considered by many to be the queen of the North American forests. It does particularly well as an understory tree.

This is a great time to take a minute to enjoy the beauty and fragrance of the White fringetrees, Chionanthus virginicus. You will find a number of these specimen trees on the Medford Campus, including those in Courts 23 and 20, as well as a grouping of them in Rushmore opposite Buildings 63 and 64, and on the Lumberton Campus near the Community Building. Their most popular feature is the fragrant fringe-like flowers that are in bloom for just a short time.

The Buckeyes are in bloom! The genus, Aesculus, buckeye, includes seventeen species of trees and shrubs native to Europe, North Americana and Asia. They are called buckeyes because their characteristic shiny, dark brown nuts, each with a pale spot, reminded early settlers of deer’s eyes.

Tilia tomentosa, commonly called silver linden or European white linden, is native to Europe and Asia, but can be found in a beautiful cluster on the Medford Campus by Parking Lot B. This tree is noted for its attractive foliage, which is glossy green above and on the reverse side silvery-white. The foliage flutters in the slightest breeze, showcasing the silver and green leaf colors. This tree typically grows to 50-70′ tall with upright branching and a broad-columnar habit. Fragrant pale-yellow flowers in groups appear in late June or early July.

Fothergilla gardenii, commonly known as dwarf fothergilla, is a compact, slow-growing, deciduous shrub that typically grows 2-3′ tall. This shrub is in bloom now with fragrant flowers.