A Nice Day To Avoid Gardening

Today was a nice touch of summer with highs in the mid 80s. Instead of gardening at home (I still have spring-purchased perennials to plant yet...), we took our annual autumn trip up to the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. This wonderful oasis of ecological restoration and plant collections encompasses 1260 acres. The image above was taken in the Longenecker Gardens, a portion of the Arboretum. This stellar woody plant collection has over 2,000 specimens and was started in 1934. It is an internationally recognized woody plant collection with many interesting woodies, including a huge collection of crabapples, lilacs and viburnums. Dr. Edward Hasselkus, Horticulture Professor Emeritus, has managed and improved Longenecker for many years and his past and present influence can be seen in every direction. The fall color was stellar and I couldn't stop taking pictures! I was mesmerized (annually) by the intense fall color of the black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica). See images below. Also known as blackgum, pepperidge, sourgum and beetlebug, this woody plant is native in portions of the Eastern United States from Florida and Texas up to portions of Canada. It prefers damper situations but is quite tolerant of a wide range of conditions (although alkaline soil should be avoided). The foliage is large, glossy, free of insect and disease issues and turns a spectacular range of bright fall colors. The Longenecker has a dozen or more specimens, including a 40' tall specimen. We have one at Rotary Gardens but it hasn't colored up yet.


Aside from impressive woodlands, the remainder of the Arboretum includes wetlands and prairies. The 60 acre Curtis Prairie (see below) is the world's oldest prairie restoration. This prairie is simply engaging this time of year and we found time to walk thru this as well. This section has lots of sumac (Rhus typhina) that is coloring up in this wet prairie.