Our long, rainy, pleasant spring officially concludes next week with the Summer solstice. In the photos below, we have two late-Spring flowers to compare. Some flowers are showy, with flashing color that catches the eye; others are small and nearly hidden.
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| These bright yellow flowers are certainly of the former eye-catching variety. Golden St. Johns wort (Hypericum frondosum) has been part of the arboretum collection since 1990. It was initially planted near Mickle Hall. After about 20 years, surrounding trees and shrubs grew up around it, blocking too much of the sunlight, steadily reducing the size of the shrub. So a few years ago we took action to preserve the small remaining shrub. It's been transplanted to a more open area, along the gravel path that runs between the Fitness Center and the Student Union Building. |
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| Bees were so active on the St. John's wort that they were difficult to photograph! Slow down, ladies, you're too busy! |
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| French mulberry (Callicarpa americana) also flowers in late spring. Clusters of tiny white flowers can be found on the numerous French mulberry shrubs spread out across the arboretum. |
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| These seemingly non-descript flowers introduce a contradiction when compared to their later product: clusters of beautiful purple berries that brighten the sweltering August landscape. |
