August 4-10 Cup Plant

This week as you are out in the Arboretum, please take time to enjoy the Silphium perfoliatum, or cup plant, in the Medford Campus Main Parking Lot.

This native plant has a number of desirable qualities including: attracting hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, drought tolerance, and best of all, the stems are topped by large clusters of yellow flowers which will bloom through early October.  This plant is also known as the compass plant because of the arrangement of the leaves.  In addition, the cup-like shape of the leaves hold rain following a storm which the birds enjoy.

July 28 to August 3 Crepe Myrtle

The end of July brings about the blooming of the Crepe Myrtle trees in our Arboretum.

These trees, which are native to southeast Asia, feature colorful and long-lasting flowers in various shades of pink, and white.  The botanical name for the tree in the Atrium on the Medford Campus is Lagerstroemia Indica.

As you are enjoying watching the turtles cool off in the pond, take a minute this week to enjoy the lovely blooms on this tree.

July 21-27 Court 28

Good afternoon,

We are pleased that Court 28 on the Medford Campus has been completely refurbished featuring native grasses that are indigenous to our area.  The structured planting is known as a "cloister" design.

The plants were chosen for their drought tolerance, disease resistance, ease of maintenance and attractiveness to birds. As the plants become established we will all enjoy the plumes and blooms that the plants offer--even in the winter season.

We appreciate the residents who live in Court 28 for their patience as this Court has been redeveloped.

July 14-20 American Beauty Berry

This week be sure to enjoy the Callicarpa Americana — otherwise know as the American beauty berry.

This shrub is found as you enter the Community Building on the Medford Campus in the garden on the left hand side of the entry.   

The small pink flowers that you see, will yield clusters of distinctly colored berries in the late summer and early fall season.  The berries provide a wonderful source of foods for birds in the fall and into the winter season.

Ecolandscaping

http://www.ecolandscaping.org/

Bittersweet Control

July 7-13 -- MILKWEED

This week—a focus on Native Plants:  You may want to investigate the Asclepias, otherwise know as Milkweed.  This is a herbaceous perennial, which provides an important nectar source for bees and other nectar-seeking insects. 

In addition, Milkweed is the host plan for the Monarch butterfly, that we all enjoy, which means it is the only plant the female Monarch will lay its eggs on.   Having Milkweed on our Campuses helps the Monarchs tremendously.

On the Medford Campus, you can see Milkweed plants at the intersection of Medford Leas Way and Estaugh Way, and on the Lumberton Campus, these plants are found in the Meadow.