Category: PhotoGallery

The weather continues to warm up and the Robins (Turdus migratorius) are back in droves, happily feeding on the leftover dried berries on the Korean Mountain Ash by the front entrance of the Haggerty Education Center. The Tulips planted last fall are beginning to break ground, the Hyacinthus orientalis cv. Delft Blue bulbs (common Hyacinth) are budding, Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paper Bush) is blooming and I found a lovely patch of Delosperma basuticum (Ice Plant) in a bed by the parking lot. Officially, at least, Spring is less than a week away!

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

Chilly and windy today, but the last couple of warm days have encouraged Mother Nature to bring forth these beauties: a whole bunch of Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite), clumps of Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrops) and a lovely Adonis amurensis (Pheasant’s Eye) blooming amidst its ferny foliage. Enjoy!

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

A cold, cloudy day, but I did manage to find a few tiny gems among the bare twigs. A sunny yellow bunch of Jasminum nudiflorum flowers (Winter Jasmine), a single coral pink Prunus mume cv. Kobai flower (Japanese Apricot) and a few Salix gracilistyla var. Melanostachys catkins (Black Pussy Willow). I am encouraged by the fact that we are now in March and Spring is only 19 days away, officially at least!

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

A chilly, rainy, gray day at the Arboretum today. Dodging raindrops, I walked around, camera in hand, and found a few more signs of life, i.e., another blooming hybrid Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia cv. ‘Sunburst’), the unusual flowers of Ivory Prince Hellebore (Helleborus x. nigersmithii cv. Walhelivor) and the tiny cones of Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia). Sometimes it’s hard to find signs of life in February, but the effort is worth it!

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

Crisp, chilly, sunny weather welcomed me to the Arboretum’s grounds today. The air was fresh, the sky a clear blue and a Pileated Woodpecker’s call could be heard in the distance. More early bloomers are beginning to pop, i.e. the lemony yellow flowers of Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine) and the strappy reddish flowers of Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Diane’ (Hybrid Witch Hazel). Also, a young Picea pungens cv. ‘Baby Blue Eyes’ (Colorado Blue Spruce) was showing off in front of a stand of dry ornamental grasses. So much to see and enjoy!

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

The day started out sunny, in the mid-40’s, but turned chilly and windy. The Witch Hazels and Pussy Willows are starting to bloom, love the splash of color and the fuzzy buds. Here are photos of a Magnolia denudata (Yulan Magnolia) bud, the flowers of Hamamelis vernalis ‘Red Imp’ (Witch Hazel) and the buds and blooms of Salix chaenomeloides (Giant Pussy Willow).

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

The winter storm last weekend wasn’t as serious as it might have been, but nevertheless the snowfall covered the Arboretum’s grounds with a crisp white blanket. Come for a visit, but do wear boots as some of the paths have not been shoveled. Here are photos of the Meadow, the Mansion and the Arbor under their snowy cover.

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

You might be surprised to see yellow in the winter garden, but several so-called evergreen plants also sport some yellow foliage; i.e., the green and yellow-spotted Aucuba japonica cv. Variegata (Japanese Aucuba), a rosette of yellow Ilex leaves (Holly species) and the yellow needles of Cephalotaxus harringtonia cv. Korean Gold (Japanese Plum Yew). Incidentally, Cephalotaxus is a good, deer-resistant substitute for Taxus baccata (English Yew).

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

Brrr, it was cold and windy at the Arboretum today! And yet, there was still some green to be found peeking through the snow which fell last week, i.e. fronds of Dryopteris erythrosora cv. Brilliance (Autumn Fern, note the fertile fronds at the top of the photo) and the tight evergreen rosettes of Euphorbia amygdaloides subspecies robbiae (Wood Spurge). Also, the beautiful, delicate, dry seed pods of Caryopteris x clandonensis ‘Blue Mist’ (Blue Mist Shrub also known as Bluebeard or Blue Spirea).

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.