August 18 - 24 Meditation Garden

This week take a look at another work in progress in the Arboretum.

Thanks to a donation from our residents, Herb and Maggie Heineman, the Meditation Garden, which is located just off of the A and B Parking Lots on the Medford Campus, is in the process of being renovated.  The design incorporates a low stone wall to identify the area, and will have benches for seating.  Native plants and trees will be the focus, along with a paved pathway to bring you into what will be a lovely peaceful garden. Take a look now to see the work in progress, and I'll keep you posted when the project is complete.  Thank you Maggie and Herb!

Lumberton Trails

Update Wednesday August 14.

Well last Saturday, August 10, I had no trouble walking the complete length of the Holly Trail.  Today it was impassable.     The bridge shown below (before and after grass pull)   is now tipped and the end shown in the photo is underwater.  It will need to be reset.   Also, the "branches that are too heavy for me to move"  are also in water day -- probably have been moved some, but not  off the trail.

 

 

After a summer when it was too hot to work, here's the situation on the trails. Willow Trail and Soggy Bottom downstream from Twin Bridges Trail are impassable. Forget about them.

On the usable trails, four trees need chain-saw attention.  But three of them are easy to step over so only one needs to be done prior to visitors.   There are a  bunch of branches down on the Holly Trail that need manpower to move away.    The other work is minimal, some grass to pull, branches to clip, and PI to spray.  Nothing major, I can handle it, but welcome help if others are available.  

Trails will be in good shape for fall Trail Walks for residents and visitors.



 

across Rancocas Trail

Across the Forrest Trail

Holly Trail - move this one before Trail Walks

Across the Holly Trail

Grass across trail

Grass pulled from Trail

Grass pulled from Trail

 

Grass across trail

 

These branches are too heavy for me to move
also there is a large hanging down to remove





It sure looks as if this trail has been maintained this
summer.  I was impressed that the bushes weren't across the trail

Here again there is evidence of trail work
branches to the side

In some places the ferns are starting to crowd the trail
I'm inclined to let this go until next year.

Pretty red flowers at the end of Rancocas Trail
But the butterfly left before I could get my camera.





Ailanthus

August 8.   These first two photos show some ailanthus that was successfully treated last year and new trees that have come up this year.  More photos in the weeks to come.



Lots of new Ailanthus that wasn't here last year.
This is behind the Naulty home.



The dead stalks are Ailanthus we killed last year
but there is a big one we missed.

Perimeter Path Fence

Pete McCord and John Speirs are the go-to guys when in comes to replacing fence rails and posts.   I'm committed to cutting vines away from the fence -- with priority on the vines that are getting in the way of the rails and posts that need to be replaced.



These two sections have been cleared of vines - ready for new rails



These two sections need  vine removal so the leaning post can be reset or replaced.

Mugwort in gardens near Lumberton meadow

The Lumberton meadow was mowed July 27.   There are gardens near the meadow with enough mugwort to reseed the entire meadow.  On August 8 I chopped down mugwort behind units #135 and #139.  I have no idea how it will be permanently removed, but at least the seeds won't reach the meadow this year.   I will survey the other gardens near the meadow and chop down mugwort which is high enough (more than waist high) that it looks as if it might go to seed.

Behind #135 AFTER mugwort was cut 3 dead bushes were seen.
I think they died because they were covered.

Behind #135 BEFORE mugwort was cut.



Side of #139 AFTER mugwort was cut.
Leaning stalk, not mugwort, in bloom was previously surrounded by mugwort.

Side of #139 BEFORE mugwort was cut
Leaning stalk in bloom, not mugwort, surrounded by mugwort.

Large bag with mugwort from #139 next to mugwort from #135

Couldn't drag the bag uphill to the street so I drug it downhill to the swale.
Phoned Medford leas to pick it up.
 

August 11-17 BoxTurtles

Not only are trees and plants a part of the Arboretum, but so are the animals who call the Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve their home. 

As you wander through the Atrium on the Medford Campus, check out the Box Turtles. 

I've learned that the mating season for our friends, has just been completed, and that several of the females have laid eggs in the clear areas that Debbie has configured. 

In two-three months, we should see the new baby turtles as they hatch.

Keep an eye out for these new arrivals come the Fall Season.

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.

Orange Trail

Bill, Gil, and I walked around the Orange trail with clippers and loppers getting rid of the catbrier that was on or nearly on the trail.  Catbrier has done very well in the rainy spring.     The first photo is of Jewel Weed which I learned is a naturalist treatment for rash -- especially poison ivy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens#Medicinal_uses_and_phytochemistry  uses the word "alleged" goes into some detail with reports of studies, pro and con.

On the Yellow Trail #  we saw a patch of ground pine (Lycopodium dendroideum). 

We saw  some of the "black stuff" which results from the fungi that grows on the "honeydew" of the beech blight aphid -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beech_blight_aphid -- We'll be watching for dancing aphids this fall.

A few yards upriver from the Spanish oak that fell across the creek during Hurricane Irene there was new fallen tree blocking the waterway.

CLICK HERE -- excellent photo of the fallen Spanish Oak -- right after Hurricane Irene

There are other Irene posts in August 2011

Jewel Weed

Dragon Fly

Ground Pine

The Spanish Oak that was taken down by Hurricane Irene is at the left -- the top half of that tree was removed so that canoes and kayaks can pass, but a branch extends down into the creek and holds therest of the trunk in place.  Center bottom is the horizontal  trunk of another fallen tree I'd not seen before. The foliage filling the right third of the picture is from a branch that sticks up vertically.   Are the leaves green because the tree is alive or because it recently fell?  In either case, the creek seems to be blocked.

June 30 to July 6 Court 11

COURT 11 - Korean Stewartia

As you are outside this week, please stop at court 11 on the Medford Campus and enjoy the Korean Stewartia which is just coming into the bloom.  The white flowers with yellow stamens offer a long period of bloom from the end of June into July.

Lots of buds-- Better photo in a few days.

June 23 to June 29 - Linden Trees

Over the next several weeks, visit Parking Lot A on the Medford Campus to enjoy the grouping of Silver Linden Trees. This particular tree is known for its clusters of creamy yellow, fragrant flowers, as well as the unique shading of the leaves which feature deep green on one side, with silvery undersides. 

June 15 Meadow Wildflowers

The album of photos from this walk are here. 

 Various ways to view, the one that let's the links in the captions work is to click on the first photo in the album,  and then use the next (or back) arrow that appears when you mouseover the rectangle on the side of the photos.

Lots of coriopsis, milkweed and dogbane, but I didn't take photos because I knew them.
milkweed is the same genus as butterfly weed
http://mlra.org/wildflowers/flowers/Asclepius_syriaca.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias_tuberosa  milkweed should be added to the wildflower site
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocynum   that's the genus for dogbane.  I don't know what species we have. Dogbane is not on the wildflower site either.

We also saw a small white violet.  I think it was a field pansy.  These are the violets that Rudy Salati identified at Medford Leas.  http://mlra.org/wildflowers/flowers/sixViolas.htm

Judy (standing), l-r  seated: Marilyn, Paul, Ann, Bill.  photo by Maggie

Ralph's photos taken at  Medford Leas.

I have been remiss in not placing Ralphs photos of Medford Leas on this blog.   I started out recreating them here so that visitors would see them without the extra step of a link.   But I realize now it's best to just provide the links.

So this is catching up with the  Medford Leas posts on Ralph's Blog.


May 3, 2013  Spring Springs

March 3, 2013 Sprng Blooms, Rapids  and Reflections

February , 2013 -- Two posts:  February Snow -- Weren't you out in it this morning?  and a second post with a deer on the Red Trail behind Ralph's Bridlington home.

June 12, 2012  -- The Resurrected Meadow

Jane Bourquin's Photos

Jane Bourquin Photos

Two years ago I copied these photos from Jane's Computer.   Wonderful wonderful.

 I will visit her and get captions for all of them.

Jane Bourquin's photos 

(I don't know why the titles of posts aren't working anymore) 

Cathedral Trail & Kreibel Way

Two Shady Trails were appropriate for Saturday, June 1, a very hot and humid day.   Perry was working in the farm despite the heat and told us about the raised beds, cover crops, and so forth.   Maggie took group photos on Cathedral Trail and Kreibel Way.   This fuzzy seed pod was interesting.  We need to ask Jane what plant produced it.

Cathedral Trail

Kreibel Way

mystery seed pod

May 18 Wildflower Walk

The weather was nice,  the Wild Geraniums were in bloom; there were five people and one dog. We picked up the red trail at the parking lot (Ranunculus, Solomon Seal), hen  took Yellow Trails #12, #11, and #10 to see the Island (False Solomon Seal, Trillium, and May Apple), Pebble Run (Lesser Celandine is gone now) and the stepping stones down to the Dock.  The we went up the road (Money Plant) to the red trail (Wild Geraniums), back on the road behind Karen's house (Sweet Pea, Wild Azalea),  The labelled, commented photographic record of this walk, located on a  Picasa Album called  2013May18WildflowerWalk,  shows the other wildflowers seen on this walk.  I think I like this new system.  One or two photos for the blog, and the photographic record elsewhere.

Bill Brown, Judy Kruger, Mary Sharp, Karen Sannwald and Taco.
photo by Maggie Heineman, link to bigger photo

Wild Geraniums