Yesterday [pandemic spring 2020] I hiked at the University of Wisconsin's arboretum here in Madison. May is a favorite time to visit because of the arboretum's famous collection of lilacs. In fact, yesterday (Thursday) the parking lot was absolutely full - none of the "social distancing" between cars I noted back in April. The only other time I've seen the parking lot full has been for the annual native plant sales. I think the lockdown is triggering more arboretum visits, and social distancing is not difficult with the immense acreage available (about half the visitors I encountered were wearing masks).
As shown above, the cool spring has retarded the blossoming of the lilacs, so after a quick walk-through to sample some fragrances I moved past the lilac collection to the fruit trees.
I didn't take time to ascertain which ones are cherry vs. apple vs. crabapple etc. It's a stunning visual treat to see all of these bursting into bloom.
Apologies for the relatively low-resolution images, because I hiked with only my cell phone, not with the proper digital camera I have used for some of the autumn foliage hikes.
In addition to the fragrance and the colors, there is an interesting variety of conformations of the fruiting trees. Some, like the one above, may be naturally splayed out, but the one below has clearly had its lower branches trimmed by the arboretum staff.
I didn't realize a tree that young could be pruned that extensively. You learn something every day.
Beyond the fruit trees is the collection of maples - a favorite destination in the autumn, but even the spring foliage is impressive, as illustrated by the contrast between the lime green and the deep purple in the two maples above.
Some azaleas still in bloom, and then on the way back to my car I encountered a tree I had never noticed before:
This mountain silverbell is not native to Wisconsin, but apparently has tolerated our winters because it was huge. Conveniently, there was one branch near the label displaying the iconic downward-hanging blossoms.
As I drove home, I decided that my love for flowering trees probably dates back to imprinting when I was a toddler. I was born in Washington, D.C. because the Navy stationed my dad there after the war. Every spring without fail, mom and dad took me to visit the cherry blossoms. In the photo above near the Jefferson Memorial I was less than a year old, and the one below, also in the Tidal Basin, I was two and a half years old.
One final thought. The trees will be here all year, but the blossoms are ephemeral. Any readers living within a half-day drive of Madison who don't take advantage of this remarkable facility in May are missing out on a visual and olfactory treat. I strongly encourage a visit soon (or to your local arboretum).
Reposted from five years ago to add new photos, including more lilacs -
... and more crabapples -
... a better image of the appropriately-named "silverbell" blossoms -
... and a surprise encounter with a mated pair of sandhill cranes -
- who were teaching their chicks how to probe the grass for food. Sandhills at the arboretum are tolerant of humans - I have had adults walk past me on a hiking path within arm's reach - but these two had chicks, so I didn't try to get any closer for a better image. I have in the past encountered turkeys with their young, and their aggressive attempt to scare me off was fully successful. I didn't want to trigger a similar response in birds with beaks that reach to my eye level.
And one final avian matter:
I saw several bluebird nesting boxes (one of which had a pair in attendance, but they didn't linger for a photo). This box has an unusual adaptatiom on the front, which presumably serves to deter predation by ?squirrels ?larger birds. Some reader can perhaps provide some information about this.
I'll close with a repetition of how I closed the post in 2020. If you live near an arboretum, go visit during the spring season. And please, if you can, support the institution financially as a "friend" or donor. These are valuable, educational, entertaining refuges from the hassles of the everyday world.
There's nothing like moving to the DC area to discover you're allergic to the cherry blossoms. And this year and I don't dare cough or sniffle.
ReplyDeleteon a warm day, that must smell of just lilac!
ReplyDeleteI-)
How beautiful! Thank you for posting.
ReplyDeleteYou were an adorable child!
ReplyDeleteAs for the bluebird house accessory, I suspect it is to deter raccoons, and possibly squirrels, although the latter can squeeze themselves into some very tight spaces and still be able to reach inside. I have 2 wren houses up, both of which were populated by chickadees this year, and my ring camera caught footage of a raccoon raiding the one nearest the front door; the other was also empty. I am literally getting ready to go to Menard's to buy a couple of baffles to hang the feeders from, because after I cleaned each house yesterday, I saw wrens investigating them. I have 3 raccoons living under my deck (also caught on a camera to identify what had dug up newly planted rosemary, which is no longer being disturbed), and other than raiding nests and filling my bird baths with filth every night, I can tolerate them.
ReplyDeleteJerry from Dallas: I recommend the Dallas Arboretum.
ReplyDeleteinteresting that the arboretum does no pruning or shaping - what you see are natural growing trees.
ReplyDeleteI can't address the arboretum's policies in general, but the tree in the 7th photo was clearly pruned, and often pruning is for the sake of the tree when branches cross one another.
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