Victorian-inspired Plants at Mount Auburn
When you visit Mount Auburn this summer you may notice some palms and other tropical plants popping up in the landscape. While they may be unusual for this climate, they’re not the first time Mount Auburn has showcased exotic flora.
(more…)Carolina allspice, Sweetshrub
…But oh! For the woods, the flowers
Of Natural, sweet perfume,
The heartening, summer showers
And the smiling shrubs in bloom,…
-Claude McKay
English naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) is credited with introducing Calycanthus floridus, Carolina allspice during his colonial explorations. His Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, was the first published work of the flora and fauna from these locations. Two large folio volumes with 220 personally engraved and individually hand-colored plates with descriptions were published between 1729 and 1747. In plate 46 he illustrated the Carolina allspice along with a cedar waxwing.
(more…)Hobblebush
…We tramped for miles on a wooded walk
Where dog-hobble grew on its twisted stalk…
-Dana Gioia
Recently, while entering the higher end of Sumac Path heading down towards Consecration Dell there were several plants of Hobblebush, Viburnum lantanoides,just opening their spring flowers. These visually distinct blossoms are arranged in 4 to 6-inch-wide, circular, composite, corymbs (flat-topped flowers). Rendered showy by an outer ring of white flowers, each 1-1 ½-inch, with 5-parted bracts, these all are sterile. Their center is composed of numerous small, true reproductive flowers, of an off-white shade.
Horticulture Highlight: Willow, Salix sp.
Horticulture Highlight: Willow, Salix sp.
Willow weep for me, willow weep for me
Bend your branches green along the stream that runs to sea
-Ann Ronell
Composer/songwriter Ann Ronell (1905-1993) recounted that her 1932 popular hit song (covered by scores of recording artists since then) was originally inspired while at Radcliffe, by beautiful willows on/near campus. Before and since then, innumerable people (and wildlife) have likewise been enthralled with countless willows.
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