Pretty springtime flowers can be found throughout the arboretum. The
redbud trees,
atamasco lilies and
butterweed are just a few of the colorful notes in the landscape. The Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana) is especially noticeable this week. Its flowers are bright white.
There are more than five Mexican plums in the arboretum collection. You can find them in three different locations. The tree pictured below is near the Fitness Center. It's a volunteer that we first noticed in 2006, which means that it is at minimum 12 years old.
 |
| The bright white flowers stand out in the landscape. And since most of the deciduous trees are still leafless, you can see the blooming Mexican plum from quite a distance. |
 |
| The Mexican plum volunteered near the drainage channel over 12 years ago. It's origins are unknown. Two sweet bay magnolias were planted near the concrete bridge, a couple of years prior to the identification of the Mexican plum, so the plum was simply added to grouping. The sweet bays are growing vertically, while the plum is stretching out horizontally. |
 |
| The Mexican plum is doing marvelously in this low spot. The other Mexican plums are located higher up, on the slopes of the arboretum. |
 |
| An up-close inspection of the flower clusters reveals that each flower has a crimson center. The flowers are fragrant, but not as fine as the crabapple. |
 |
| The short twisting trunk divides into three large branches. |
 |
| Mexican plums have dark, rough, peeling bark that adds to their beauty throughout the year. The swamp leather-flower (Clematis crispa) is using the rough bark as a trellis. |
You can see photos of the arboretum's other Mexican plums
here.
