1)     Acer palmatum ‘Nuresagi’                                                     Japanese Maple

Now that the vivid colors of the emerging foliage of Japanese Maples have faded, it is time to appreciate the summer beauty of the sometimes, very colorful samaras (winged achene containing the maple seed). Not all Japanese Maples produce showy samaras, but some cultivars are known specifically for this. Acer palmatum ‘Nuresagi’ (“nuresagi” translates to “wet heron”) is located at the edge of the Upper Woodland Garden Pond.

Roy Farrow

2)   Illicium henryi                                                                         Henry’s Star Anise

Henry’s Star Anise produces wonderful pink blooms from an otherwise un-assuming lanky green shrub. The flowers are followed by the iconic five-part woody fruit capsule of Star Anise and can be found along the Upper Trail near the Dan Hinkley Asiatic Maple Collection. Read more about Illicium henyri in the July 2018 Plant Profile.

Roy Farrow

3)   Kalmia latifolia ‘Fuscata’, synonym K. l. forma fuscata                Mountain Laurel

Mountain Laurel, also known as spoonwood or calico bush, is native to the eastern United States Flowers of Kalmia latifolia range from white to deep, deep pink while the rare form, fuscata has bands of muddy purple inside. You can see many types of Kalmia latifolia in and around the Woodland Garden, and you can read more about them in the May 2016 Plant Profile.

Roy Farrow

4)   Magnolia macrophylla                                                              Big Leaf Magnolia

Aptly named Magnolia macrophylla (macro means “large”, phylla means “leaf”) has the largest simple leaves of any tree indigenous to the United States and can reach 30 inches long! The stunning foliage can be viewed up close along the Upper Trail near the Dan Hinkley Asiatic Maple Collection where you can find young sprouts emerging from an old rotting trunk.

Roy Farrow

5)   Taxodium distichum                                                            Bald Cypress

A collection of Bald Cypress trees can be viewed along with their “knees” on Foster Island, along the newly-uncovered eastern shore near the northern point. Knees tend to grow larger on trees growing less in stable soil, which often means swamps. For a treatise regarding the purpose of knees on trees, please see https://arboretum.harvard.edu/stories/cypress-knees-an-enduring-enigma/

Roy Farrow