Quintessential mid-summer weather: hazy, hot and humid, scarcely a breeze to be found and no relief from the puny little puffs of air movement encountered. Stayed in the shade, looking for relief from the heat; thank goodness for the various water fountains dotting the property, their rippling waters and dripping sounds provided some respite from the heat, even if only fleeting. Photos show the Sylvan Terrace pool and fountain, the Shade Garden goldfish pool and mini waterfall, the Rose Garden fountain with its four jets and the trickling fountain next to the pergola behind the Mansion – most of the water features on the property are either in the shade or shade is nearby. Stay cool!
A hot summer day, the gardens are a bit dry and blooming less profusely, but plenty of color can still be found. A medium-sized Crape Myrtle shrub (Lagerstroemia indica cv. Velma’s Royal Delight) is full of flower clusters, the Black-Eyed Susan plants (Rudbeckia) are beginning to bloom and there are pockets of Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) blooming in several beds.
Frequent contributor, Katharine Boyle sent these beautiful images along with the following note:
”Enclosed are some recent images from Friday. I’ll admit that the up close and personal photos of the honeybee are a bit intense. You can see its tongue (proboscis) and its ocelli (tiny “simple eyes”) in the shots. Bees have two large eyes and then three tiny eyes above them. Hope you and others enjoy them! “
Thanks to a few showers yesterday, the humidity is down and it feels much cooler today, what a relief! The Gardens next to Matilda’s cottage are blooming beautifully in a riot of colors, textures, shapes and heights. There are bright red Daylilies (Hemerocallis), light pink Hardy Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos), mauve Cluster Top Vervain (Verbena bonariensis), tall white Tobacco plants (Nicotiana), bright orange Turks Cap Lilies (Lilium superbum), and several decorative dry Allium giganteum (Giant Onion) seed heads. Plan to visit soon, these are not the only gardens in bloom.
Mid-80s today at the Arboretum. Walking from spot of shade to spot of shade and sitting often, so grateful for all the comfortable benches along the way! The Adirondack chairs in front of the Mansion provide an expansive view of the Great Lawn; blooming in the gardens were bright red Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ (Montbretia), periwinkle blue Platycodon grandiflorus (Balloon Flower) and, in a large pot in the shade, Eucomis ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ (Pineapple Lily) with Oakleaf Hydrangea flowers behind it.
The sunny beds flanking the entrance to the Haggerty Education Center have been planted differently this year with a “hot” combination of tropical plants, including Aechmea blanchetiana ‘Hawaii” (Bromeliad), deep red Coleus spp, bright orange Marigolds (Tagetes) and delicate Tassel Flowers (Emilia spp). It makes for a striking arrangement, especially when planted in front of the dark green hedge behind. Visit and see for yourself!
Picture credits: Margery Ennist.
Achmea Blanchetiana Hawaii
Achmea Blanchetiana Hawaii
Achmea Blanchetiana Hawaii
This is the Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s Photo Gallery. Click on the title of one of the albums below to open it where you may then browse the pictures. To receive photos regularly, sign up for our weekly email blast by clicking here.
We welcome pictures from all our friends and visitors — send any you would like to see here to webmaster@arboretumfriends.org.
Mother Nature is showing us her very best, even on a cool, rainy day! Enjoy the photos of a Cornus florida rubra tree (Pink Flowering Dogwood) and flower closeup, Iris cv. Dark Vader and Paeonia tenuifolia (Fernleaf Peony).
The Tulip show at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum has been truly spectacular this year, close up as well as from a distance. However, as we all know, all good things must come to an end, so as the show dwindles, please enjoy these lovely photos taken by Heather Emelander.
Another cloudy, cool day, but the Arboretum’s grounds are coming alive with lots of color, texture and scents to delight the senses. The Tulips at the entrance to the Haggerty Education Center have changed from an all yellow display to a beautiful combination of yellow, orange and a few deep red flowers; there is a miniature Aquilegia flabellata cv. Nana (Dwarf Japanese Columbine) blooming in the rock garden and a Malus ‘Maypole’ (Columnar Maypole Apple) is in full bloom in the vegetable garden. Make sure to visit soon, you won’t be sorry!
Frequent contributor, Katharine Boyle sent these beautiful perspectives of Spring with this comment, “I finally visited my favorite arboretum again on Sunday, and here are some of my favorite images.”
Thanks for these images of spring at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum.
A windy, chilly, cloudy day, but the Tulips have burst forth in a glorious display of sunny yellow flowers, what a welcome sight! Also, the Viburnum Carlesii (Koreanspice Viburnum) has begun blooming and releasing its wonderfully fragrant scent and several clumps of yellow Primula veris ssp. Columnae (Cowslip) are blooming in a bed behind the Haggerty Education Center.
It was a perfect spring day, sunny, clear blue skies, fluffy white clouds, low 70 degrees. Lots of visitors enjoying the grounds, the blooming Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica, a lovely spring ephemeral), and the delicate flowers of several different varieties of Cherry trees: the semi-pyramidal pink blooming Prunus avium cv. Plena (double flowered Sweet Cherry), the lacy white blooming Prunus x yedoensis (Yoshino Cherry) and the light pink, frothy flowers of the Prunus cv. Accolade (Flowering Cherry). Visit soon!
One of our frequent contributors to the picture gallery, Steve Kanan, supplied ample evidence of a beautiful spring at the arboretum. Thanks as always for the great pictures, Steve.
As the saying goes, Spring has Sprung! The Daffodils, Hyacinths and other smaller bulbs are all blooming, the Tulip bulbs planted last fall are all up and it won’t be long before we’re treated to the beautiful display of flowers, cute Pansy faces are looking out from a variety of planters and the Cherry trees (Prunus subhirtella, Higan Cherry) are beginning to bloom. This is such a special and beautiful time of year; make time to visit soon!
A sad sight greeted me at the Arboretum today, the unseasonably cold weather caused the Magnolia x loebneri cv. Merrill (Loebner Magnolia) flowers to freeze and turn brown; I was encouraged, however, by the fact that not all of the buds have opened, so it’s possible that we may still get to enjoy some of the magnificent flowers. Several of the Hellebores were blooming very nicely, a lovely white one and a pale pink spotted one, were a sight for sore eyes.
A sad sight greeted me at the Arboretum today, the unseasonably cold weather caused the Magnolia x loebneri cv. Merrill (Loebner Magnolia) flowers to freeze and turn brown; I was encouraged, however, by the fact that not all of the buds have opened, so it’s possible that we may still get to enjoy some of the magnificent flowers. Several of the Hellebores were blooming very nicely, a lovely white one and a pale pink spotted one, were a sight for sore eyes.
A sunny, cool, blustery March afternoon at the Arboretum. The buds on the Edgeworthia chrysantha (Paper Bush) have opened into a lovely cluster of yellow and white flowers, Crocuses are popping up all over the grounds and the Prunus mume cv. Kobai (Japanese Flowering Apricot) is blooming beautifully against the white walls of the Carriage House. Make plans to visit soon!
White and pale orange captured my attention today as I strolled through the various gardens at the Arboretum. A huge, very fragrant flower on the Magnolia grandiflora cv. Edith Bogue (Southern Magnolia Cultivar), the large trumpet shaped flower on a Brugmansia (Angel’s Trumpet), the spidery white flower on the annual Cleome hassleriana (Spider Flower) and the light orange flower on the Campsis radicans (Trumpet Creeper Vine) climbing over the arbor leading into the Haggerty Education Center. Plan to visit soon!
