It may not feel like it after such a rainy, cool spring, but the Solstice on June 21st marks the start of summer!  Although spring flowers are now behind us, plenty more have been blooming to welcome in the summer months.  Celebrate the beginning of summer at the Arboretum by viewing these seasonal favorites.

1)   Rosa rugosa  ‘Wasagaming’                                                  Wasagaming Rose

This rose is a hybrid with showy, cool pink blossoms appearing in early summer and a strong floral fragrance. The name of this variety comes from an Anishinaabe phrase meaning ‘clear water lake’. This shrub is located along the service road on the east side of the Arboretum Loop Trail, on the east side of Crabapple Meadow,  and growing alongside several other varieties of roses.

Sloane Palmer

2)   Philadelphus pubescens                                                 Broad-leaf Mock Orange

This shrub typically blooms in early summer with white blossoms and is native to the southeastern United States. It can be found in the Mountain Ash Collection on the east side of the Arboretum Loop Trail in the largest garden bed.

Sloane Palmer

3)   Rhododendron ‘Azor’                                                            Azor Rhododendron

This hybrid rhododendron with eye-catching pink flowers has a later blooming period than many other species of rhododendron, generally occurring in June. It can be found on the west side of the Rhododendron Glen Upper Trail, just north of the entrance across from parking lot #5.

Sloane Palmer

4)   Fuchsia magellanica                                                                    Hardy Fuchsia

These vivid red and purple flowers bloom on a shrub native to southern Chile and southern Argentina. This species is relatively cold tolerant and known to attract hummingbirds. These shrubs are located along the path from the Pacific Connections Garden shelter in the Chilean Entry Garden.

Sloane Palmer

5)   Callistemon viridifolius                                                         Green Bottlebrush

This plant, with bright chartreuse flowers, appears to be just starting to bloom and is native to Tasmania, Australia. It can be found in the Australian Entry Garden in the front bed beside the trail and just east of the bollards.

Sloane Palmer