Plants In Bloom

At the northwest corner of Belknap Hall and just north of the Mary Lyon’s main entrance we have Katsuratrees {Cercidiphyllum japonicum} in beautiful shades of yellow. In years past an earlier frost would often disfigure this tree’s fall color but this year it is magnificent. The specimen at Mary Lyons is multi-stem; a common way this tree is grown, the tree at Belknap was grown single stem from a bare root seedling in our nursery by Mr. Sweedler.

On Main Street in front of the Silver CAC are several Sugar Maples {Acer saccharrum} with their usual outstanding fall foliage. On the east side of Smith Hall opposite the Fast Takes window is an Amur Maple {Acer ginnala} that has many shades of red in its foliage. This very hardy Maple also has a nice flower display, colorful seeds, {8/08} and now very attractive foliage. Across High Street from Prospect Hall is a Korean Mountain Ash with pinkish red colored fruit and foliage that is slowly turning yellow and orange.

At the rear entrance to Russell House is a Flowering Dogwood {Cornus florida} that has red fall foliage as well as one of its best fruit sets in its history. Because the flower buds are less hardy that the rest of the tree, we rarely get many flowers or fruit. The red fruit is in clusters of three or four {sometimes more} and is devoured by many different species of birds. Growing under the Dogwood are two groundcovers, Chameleon Plant {Houttuynia cordata ‘Chameleon’} with pink, white and green leaves, and ‘Pink Pewter’ Spotted Dead Nettle {Lamium maculatum ‘Pink Pewter’} that is still blooming with many pink flowers and green foliage with white variegations.

 In the islands of the Hyde Hall parking lot are three White Ash {Fraxinus americana} that have turned a very attractive deep red. These trees have grown extremely well since being planted in a location surrounded by pavement. In several locations on both sides of Highland St, are large plantings of Dwarf Korean Lilac {Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’} that have turned a very deep purple. By far the best fall color of any Lilac.

In the center of the bed on the east side of Hall Dorm is a ‘Winter King’ Hawthorn {Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’} with bright red fruit that retains its color well into winter. This tree has always develops a very nice rounded habit with a horizontal branching structure that is very attractive. At the front of the same bed are several Dwarf Fothergillas {F. gardenii} that are turning several shades of red.

In the bed along the west side of Silver CAC are three Sourwood trees {Oxydendron arboreum} that have deep dark red foliage and very graceful seed panicles. The seed will remain on the trees well into winter, making this is an excellent four season ornamental tree. In front of Prospect Hall is a large mass of ‘Henry’s Garnet’ Virginia Sweetspire {Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’} that has also changed to a beautiful deep red. This award winning plant will retain its foliage long after most plants have dropped their leaves and will be very attractive well into November.

In the garden on the east side of the Bagley House are a group of Autumn Crocus or Meadow Saffron {Colchicum autumnale} in bloom with light purple flowers. These bulbs were planted well over thirty years ago and bloom every fall. All flower parts contain colchicine which is still used to treat gout.

In front of Prospect Hall, along the curb, are several ‘Red Sprite’ Winterberries {Ilex veticillata ‘Red Sprite’} with copious amounts of fruit turning red with our last few cool nights. The fruit will last well into winter and is even more striking when the leaves drop and the ground is covered with snow. On the west side of Lamson Library is a Blue Holly {Ilex x meserveae} that is having one of its best fruiting seasons. Many red fruits contrast with its deep bluish-green evergreen foliage. This is our alternative to the American Holly {Ilex opaca} which is not hardy.

At the southwest corner of Ellen Reed is an ‘Erie’ Viburnum {V. dilatatum ‘Erie’} that has a large amount of red fruit. This will be followed by outstanding multi-colored {red, yellow and orange} fall foliage that will eventually be a rich maroon.

At the west entrance to the HUB is a Purple Beautyberry {Callicarpa dichotoma} that is blooming with very small pinkish-lavender flowers. These flowers will bear many 1/16-1/8″ diameter fruits that are the same color as the flowers.