What’s in Bloom 2022
What’s in Bloom: Week of November 7, 2022
Witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, several locations
Mums, Chrysanthemum sp., several locations
Autumn Joy Sedum, Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, several locations
Japanese anemone, Anemone hupehensis, several locations
‘Knockout rose’, Rosa ‘Radrazz’, Spelman Rd.
(more…)Horticulture Highlight: Milkweed
…Now soon the monarchs will be drifting south,
and then the geese will go, then one day
the little garden birds will not be here…
-Howard Nemerov
Recently while at the Wildflower Meadow & Pollinator Habitat surrounding our Washington Tower, we lingered to contemplate a Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, and how passing time has brought a more positive opinion towards this one time commonly dismissed “weed”. Today, increased public knowledge that milkweeds serve as preferred food for the caterpillars of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), has turned countless former opponents into its protectors and even planters.
(more…)Horticulture Highlight: Amur Maackia
…Beneath the green mysterious
tree standing at the dead center
of the garden…
Robert Bense
Having 5000 trees representing over 670 taxa, there are examples such as sugar maples, dogwoods and white pines, each with hundreds of individuals throughout our cemetery. To accomplish ongoing efforts of diversifying our living collection, we also grow lesser known, perhaps even mysterious, types of trees, shrubs, vines and perennials. One less well known and less frequently planted tree is Amur Maackia, Maackia amurensis.
(more…)Horticulture Highlight: Bugbane, Black Cohosh
Horticulture Highlight: Actaea racemosa, Bugbane, Black Cohosh
…twisted like a mobius
belt, before insinuating your noxious
nectar – omnivorous, odoriferous, officious
orifice-filler, you…
-Mark Levine
While in bloom, Actaea racemosa, Bugbane, Black Cohosh, with tall stems and long fleecy flowers is truly eye-catching. These same blossoms emit an unpleasant odor. Centuries ago, some thought this smell could repel insects, hence one common name bugbane. The non-entomological etymology has a basis from Algonquin Native Americans. Cohosh is derived from co-os, meaning pine tree, alluding to the pointed spikes.
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