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Evergreen foliage is not confined to pines, spruces or firs, a variety of plants retain their leaves during the winter months. There are some beautiful examples of this at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, i.e., the green and yellow speckled leaves of Aucuba japonica cv. Variegata (Spotted Laurel), the yellow and green leaves of a variegated Ilex glabra (Variegated Inkberry Holly), the green and yellow pointed leaves of Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ (Holly Osmanthus) and the green and white serrated leaves of Euonymus fortunei cv. Variegatus (Wintercreeper Euonymus) growing up a tree trunk.

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

A chilly walk around the Arboretum’s grounds today. The sun was casting long, mid-afternoon shadows across the ground in the Japanese Maple garden, the Meadow behind the Mansion was bathed in a soft, golden glow and the bright red berries on the Ilex corallina x aquifolium ‘Centennial Girl’ (Holly Hybrid) added a festive touch to the large Holly next to the Marsh Meadow Deck.

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

Sunny, crisp and cool, in the mid-40s with a lovely blue sky. There are signs of winter on the Arboretum grounds now, a patch of snow by the rock garden and a frozen pond near the Alpine Garden.

Now that the leaves have fallen, we can appreciate Mother Nature’s design in the intricate architecture exhibited by the branches of the Cercidiphyllum japonicum f. pendulum (Weeping Katsura Tree). This is another one of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s NJ Champion Trees which can be visited near the Mansion.

Picture credits: Margery Ennist.

Misty and foggy at the Arboretum today, but the grounds have been decorated for the holidays, which greatly contributed towards lifting my spirits. Red and green gnomes and some festive tuteurs line the entrance walk to the Haggerty Education Center. A lovely wreath created by the Home Garden Club of Morristown decorates the Carriage House doors, and a kissing ball hangs in front of the Mansion.

The Friends decorated a tree for the Morris County Park Commission’s Festival of Trees. We named our tree Woodland Friends and it’s decorated with birds, flowers, forest creatures, feathers, origami stars and a large owl as a tree topper surveying his domain! Here’s a photo, but please note that our tree can be much better appreciated in person! 

Register to attend the Festival of Trees through the Morris County Park Commission at 973 326-7601.

Pictures courtesy Margery Ennist.

Katharine Boyle sent a group of photos of some of the labyrinth stones at the Arboretum, saying in her email, “Enclosed are some images from my longer jaunt at the arboretum on November 23. I was admiring the beautifully-painted rocks at the labyrinth and photographed the ones that resonated with me. “

Frequent contributor, Katharine Boyle, sent these nice pictures with a brief note: “Enclosed are some images from my short time at the arboretum on November 20. It was quite cold and windy, not ideal for me with my macro lens. But, it made for a few “impressionistic” images.”