New England asters are showy purple flowers blooming now in flower beds and natural areas. Out of the many species of aster found in Ohio, these are distinctive for their large, purple flower heads. Natural color variations result in some pink and white flowering plants as well.
Taking a moment to watch the pollinators often leads me to new discoveries. I noticed that among the common bumblebees and carpenter bees was a different bee, the golden northern bumblebee. This species is similar in size to carpenter bees but with a completely fuzzy and almost completely yellow abdomen.
Ailanthus webworm moths can also be seen during the day on blooming flowers. They have a colorful pattern and when not in flight look more like a beetle than a moth.
After recent rains tons of ringless honey mushrooms have popped up in large numbers. While it appears to be growing from the grass there is likely buried wood or tree roots underground that it is actually growing from.
The kousa dogwood produces bizarre fruits that I get a lot of questions about. Not just ornamental, these fruits are edible. It’s best to avoid the somewhat bitter skin and not eat the hard seeds but they do have an interesting flavor.
Most persimmons around The Arboretum are not yet ripe but there’s one spot on grounds I always find them ripe and falling to the ground early. There are two mature persimmon trees across from the memorial on the north end of the auto tour. The older of the two was accessioned in 1926!
We’ve loved being able to watch young cardinals in the Bird Watching Garden for the last several weeks. They’re no longer relying on their parents to feed them and have started finding seeds for themselves. My favorite thing about the juvenile cardinals are the tiny tufts that will one day be their crest.
It’s not always so peaceful in the garden with the siblings getting in little disagreements every once in a while.
– Hannah Dillemuth, Learning & Engagement Educator
