SPRING BLOOMS AT THE MORTON ARBORETUM

The Morton Arboretum's Massive Bulb Planting Yields Impressive Spring Beauty

LISLE, IL (April 15, 2010) - They say April showers bring May flowers, but with warm weather arriving in Chicagoland relatively early this year, The Morton Arboretum horticulturists say spring blooms are generally running about two weeks ahead of schedule. The result? Blooms from most of the 73,200 bulbs planted on Arboretum grounds over the last three years are now coming into full splendor.

"The white or yellow daffodils are simply stunning against the bright green grass of early spring. These flowers are a lovely complement to the Arboretum's diverse array of trees and other plants from 40 countries," says Kris Bachtell, Arboretum Vice President of Collections and Grounds. The Arboretum features the largest collection of flowering ornamental trees in the Midwest.

This is the third year of blooms from a massive, multi-year bulb-planting project in several Arboretum locations that total 10 acres.

In 2007, horticulturists planted 17,500 daffodil bulbs adjacent to the Elm Collection and alongside the award-winning Meadow Lake, including Las Vegas, Delibes, and Bridal Crown varieties. At the same time, 5,500 of the small, purplish-blue Christmas Pearl grape hyacinth bulbs went in, and their flowers are now seen dotting the landscape as well.

In 2008, "the ribbon" was born: 38,200 bulbs were planted in a narrow strip of landscape that greets arriving visitors near the Arboretum gatehouse. These involve 13,600 Primeur, 3,000 Goose Green, 6,200 Las Vegas, and 10,400 Pistachio daffodil varieties. In addition, 5,000 grape hyacinth were also planted in this area.

Last fall, it was the Northern Illinois and Appalachia collections where horticulturists planted 5,000 Tahiti, 3,500 Barrett Browning, and 3,500 Brackenhurst daffodil bulbs.

In addition to these three years' worth of plantings, the famous Daffodil Glade on the Arboretum's West Side sports 22 acres of lovely blooms that have been attracting thousands of visitors each year since the 1960s.

Daffodils are particularly hardy for our area. They tolerate clay or sandy soil, but do require well-drained soil. And perhaps best of all, deer and rabbits stay away from them!

The Morton Arboretum is a world-renowned leader in tree science and education, working to save and plant trees. The 1,700-acre outdoor museum features magnificent collections of 4,117 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. Central Time until sunset. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through February. Visit Press Room at www.mortonarb.org, call to learn more.

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