Timely posts about Willowwood.
The Willowwood Arboretum is featured in an article in the Fall / Winter issue of Early Homes magazine.
Enjoy the history and the beautiful accompanying photographs in this pdf: Early Homes F/W The Magic of Willowwood.
The official start of winter is only a few weeks away. Willowwood is entering a quieter season, but there are still highlights in the gardens and surrounding landscape to notice and enjoy on your next visit.
The arboretum’s subtle, early winter color palette is greatly enlivened by its many winterberries (Ilex verticillata), some of which greet you from along the Willow Path as you approach the parking lot. In autumn, these deciduous hollies produce masses of showy, bright red fruit on otherwise bare stems. The cultivar ‘Red Sprite’ sings out from the far corner of the Cottage Garden, where its fruit contrasts nicely with the deep green of the southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) leaves above it. Don’t miss ‘Winter Gold’, (photo at right) either, in the Winter Garden between the main parking lot and the alfalfa field. This selection is covered in fiery coral-hued fruit.
Another woody plant sporting lovely fruit this time of year is the tea crabapple (Malus hupehensis). Its small, glossy pome-fruits (photo left) look like miniature sour cherries, and range in color from deep red to wine red. A number of these trees punctuate the Bee Meadow.
If you continue to the far end of the Bee Meadow and cross Blackburn Brook, be sure to stop and have a look at the stewartia collection on the opposite side of the bridge on the left. Stewartia monadelpha and Stewartia malacodendron both have gorgeous mottled bark in shades of copper, grey and pink that really stands out in winter. Perhaps you will even catch a glimpse of a Red-tailed Hawk perched in the branches overhead (photo below at right).
The meadows along the main drive are also excellent places to spot hawks and other wildlife and simply go for a wander. Their winter tapestry of subtle colors and textures looks especially magical in the slanted light of early morning and late afternoon.
If you need a place to warm up after a walk outside, stop in the Conservatory, which is packed with tender plants that are sheltering from the colder weather. The large, bold flowers of the South African blood lily (Haemanthus albiflos) are just opening now (photo below), and the camellia (Camellia japonica ‘Berenice Boddy’) is covered in pink blossoms.
The 2015 Photo Contest topic was “Fall and Winter Flora and Fauna at Willowwood”
The Willowwood Foundation is very pleased to announce the following winners: the 1st place winner was Barbara Storms. Tied for 2nd were two wonderful shots by Dave Mojica and 4th place was won by Navjot Singh. All top photos are pictured on our “Photo” Page
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There is a Fall Open House scheduled for Sunday October 4, 2015 from Noon to 4 pm with garden tours and the Tubbs House is open — but if you can’t visit then, come any day to the Arboretum 8 am to dusk and enjoy these beautiful gardens.
Judy Schaible, Superintendent of Horticulture at Willowwood, has provided this Fall Bloom Information:
“We’ve been busy at Willowwood keeping the gardens and newly planted trees watered this very dry summer so the gardens still have a lot of show left in them!
As you wind your way down the driveway through the fields you’ll see yellow Goldenrod(Solidago), purple New England Aster (Symphotrichum novae –angliae) and the coppery fall color of Little Bluestem(Schizachrium scoparium) in the meadows that surround you. After you park try taking a walk through the meadow paths, you’ll truly feel immersed in nature.
The Cottage Garden trellis is covered with the beautiful flowers and purple seed pods of the Hyacinth bean (Dolichos lab lab). See if you can pick out the pink flowers of Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate (Persicaria orientalis) towering over one of the beds. Many of the perennials such as Blue Star (Amsonia hubrictii) are starting to get their fall color with the shorter days and cooler nights.
The Elephant Ears (Colocasia) in the bed next the paved driveway have really enjoyed the heat that we’ve had and to quote one of the presidential candidates “They’re HUUUUGE”.
In the Rosarie, the pink Crape Myrtelettes (Lagerstroemia) are happily blooming away along with all of the annuals. If you saw this garden in the spring you have to come back and see it now. What a transformation!!
The Wood Walk should be starting with some fall color soon and is a relaxing stroll in any season.
Please come visit us and enjoy!”
With the departure of current President Rob Diemar and his family to warmer climes (although Rob will remain a Trustee for the Tubbs Trust), 15 year veteran Trustee Brace Krag was named President by the Board of Trustees at their June, 2015 meeting.
Other new officers include Jason Andris, Vice President, Kate Burke Walsh, Secretary and Stathis Andris continues as Treasurer.