Arboretum & Botanical Garden Bulletin Board
Plant of the Month
‘Pink Spires’ Flowering Crabapple
Malus ‘Pink Spires’
Location: Grid T2 along the golf course fence near the top of the Hosta Walk.
One of the greatest parts of my job is the fact that there is something new to see and learn every day. I don’t remember noticing before this year that ‘Pink Spires’ Flowering Crabapple flowers much earlier than all the other crabs. They are essentially in full bloom now and most of the other crabs are not even showing any color yet.
‘Pink Spires’ was selected by the Canadian Department of Agriculture in Saskatchewan, Canada which might explain the early flowering.
The tree in the picture was planted in 2016, and according to our records there is another one on the other side of the valley planted in 1992 — now I will need to go see it!
I planted the one in the picture way too close to the existing Siberian Pea Shrub hedge, perhaps believing the description of a narrow, upright form a little too literally. We did a little reduction pruning on the Siberian Peas, but really should do more. The description also talks about reddish purple new leaves turning to green later in the summer which is accurate.
Monthly Projects
April is the month that everything happens at once — grass needs mowed, weeds need sprayed, winter damage needs pruned, new plants need planting and on and on...
A fairly major project completion was expanding the south-end parking lot by 10 spaces. I have seen the lot nearly full on a weekday afternoon, so I am guessing it still isn’t big enough on a warm Saturday in May! We decided rather than planting the sunflowers clear out on the west end as we have before, to make a narrow strip all along the north edge of the expansion. Hoping it will make a great photo op with the barn in the background.
We also planted the new cold-hardy cacti collection down in the Xeriscape Garden, 20 different cacti, three trunk-forming Yuccas (including Joshua Trees) and a hardy agave.
Upcoming Events
Arboretum Associates Annual Plant Sale
NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR — Facilities Greenhouse, 875 Perimeter Drive
10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 18
This year's plant sale list and promotional poster are available for download.
When visiting the Arboretum, please remember that for your safety, the safety of others and for the protection of wildlife and plant collections, no pets are allowed. Ice on ponds is very unstable — stay off any ice.