Plants

A wall of forest looms above

And sweetly the blackbird sings

All the birds make melody

Over me and my books and things…

            –Priscian

In the past we have discussed plants which commemorate Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Cherokee Chief Sequoia (c.1770-1844), Pierre Magnol (1638-1715), Peter Kalm (1715-1779), Dr. Joseph Fothergill (1712-1780), and Father Armand David (1826-1900) to mention but a few “mysteries of the gardens.” Each of these and many others have had their names immortalized, in Latinized form, allowing us and garden aficionados to pursue the playful activity of “who does your garden grow.” (more…)

Mount Auburn Cemetery attracts over 200,000 visitors per year, and they visit for many different reasons. Families and friends come to pay tribute to loved ones every day, as we continue to do about 500 new burials per year. Others come to enjoy the beautiful landscape, the magnificent trees, the birds and other wildlife, or the amazing collection of funerary art and architecture. Many attend our educational programs and tours, and still others come to study history and learn about the notable residents of Mount Auburn. Some do all of the above. (more…)

…But it must be that I,

that animal, that Russian, that exile, from whom

the bells of the chapel pullulate sounds at

heart…

-Wallace Stevens

Perhaps at Mount Auburn, thoughts from the above lines might recall Svetlana Boym, even though Stevens’ words are metaphorical. However, herein allow the transitional thoughts to rather delve into a plant native to Russia, Microbiota decussata, Russian Arborvitae growing within our landscape. Not unsurprisingly, the largest country in the world is native to numerous planting choices used here, Scilla siberica occurs only in the wild in southern Russia. Additionally, regardless of their somewhat confusing common names, Norway spruce, Dahurian larch, Korean pine, Manchurian birch, Manchurian maple, Manchurian walnut, Manchurian fir and Caucasian fir among others are Russians also represented in our living collection. (more…)

Mount Auburn’s landscape is composed of a diverse array of plants and trees that come into bloom at different times and in different seasons.  See both a calendar and a list view of What’s in Bloom below:

What’s in Bloom: Week of November 5, 2018

Witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, Dell Path, Linden Path

Japanese anemone, Anemone hupehensis, Admin. bldg.

Jackman clematis, Clematis xjackmanii, Admin. bldg.

Wild bleeding heart, Dicentra exemia, Admin. bldg.

Ladies’-tresses, Spiranthes sp., Beech Ave.

Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum sp., several locations

Tatarian aster, Aster tataricus, Asa Gray garden

Aster, Aster ‘Raydon’s Favorite’, Asa Gray garden

‘The Fairy’ rose, Rosa ‘The Fairy’, @ Sphinx

Rose, Rosa sp., several locations

 ‘Knockout’ rose, Rosa ’Radrazz’, Spelman Rd.

Snapdragon, Antirrhinum sp., Greenhouse garden

Lysianthus, Eustoma sp., Greenhouse garden

Cosmos, Cosmos bipinnatus, Greenhouse garden

Strawflower, Helichrysum bracteatum, Greenhouse garden

~

Mount Auburn Rap by Maria Lindberg

The squill is a thrill

Chionodoxa really rocks ya

Pansies and crocus bring it all into focus

Spice bush and lilacs delight the senses

Ivy twines around cast iron fences

Vinca hosta azealea silverbell

Escort the traveler on the way to the Dell

Orioles flit from spruce to beech

Hawks fly above with a warning screech

Turtles and bullfrogs and muskrats abound

Owls in their nests make nary a sound

Kingfishers herons and cormorants as well

Robins and phoebes have a story to tell

The Metasequoia of Auburn Lake

A perch for hawks and a migratory break

For warblers in May luring birders far and wide

Wonder and song are the gifts they provide

The American elm and the mighty oak

Guard the eternal sleep of the silent folk

Of Mount Auburn Cemetery

 If you see a tree or plant in bloom that is not on this list, please leave a comment below or email us at friends@mountauburn.org.