Is your heart bursting with love?

These beautiful crimson flowers are called "Hearts-a-Bursting," sometimes adding the words "with love."  They are so named because there are four to five bright red seed capsules which, when opened, reveal four to five shiny red berries, which remain attached to the plant for several weeks.  You can't miss one inflorescence of this plant as you walk into the visitors center office.  Look for more behind the office.  This flower is sometimes also called Strawberry Bush.

 

One of fall's most beautiful blooms is the aster, and you may see several varieties as you travel the upper road at Reflection Riding, especially near the Squincy Bird Cabin.

What is an arboretum?

An arboretum is simply an area with trees and shrubs. At Reflection Riding, we use the term more broadly: many acres of trees, shrubs, flowers, ponds, etc. As a Level 4 Arboretum, we have at least 150 trees identified. If you are interested in learning trees, now is a good time to start, before the leaves drop. A good way to start would be to walk on some of our roads or trails and find trees with identifying plaques. Take paper and pencil with you and make notes about the tree you are seeing: About how tall is it? What does the bark look like? What is the shape of the leaves? How do the leaves grow (two on opposite sides of a stem, alternating sides of the stem, etc.)? Are the edges of the leaves toothed, smooth, or -? Better still, sketch one or more leaves. You do not have to be an artist to do this.

Red Maple

Bitternut Hickory

More about our trees later

Fall in love with fall flowers.

Purple coneflowers and asters can be seen around Reflection Riding, such as near Squincy Bird Cabin and on the right side of the upper road as you near the exit near the barn.

Hurry, hurry, hurry before the wind blows them away!  Pilewort is blooming on the lower road and in a huge clump in the middle of the little garden at the end of the lower pond.  The inflorescence is a fragile white tuft, easily blown by the wind, leaving many stems with pods that look something like okra without the points.

 

More Late Summer Flowers

Jewel Weed is in full bloom near the caretaker's house. Hummingbirds love it. People sometimes call it Touch-Me-Not because if you gently touch a bloom, seeds will explode from it. The leaves have a shiny or jewel-like appearance when held under water; this may be how it got its name.

Yellow Partridge Peas are brightening the lower road before the bamboo stand and past it at the curve by the pines; and you can also see patches of it along the Creek Road amid the tickseed - look closely: it's yellow in yellow!

Mountain mint is blooming here and there on the upper road. Look for grayish-white blooms. This flower has sometimes been used for herbal tea.