Summer: See nature in full bloom
Summertime is spectacular at the Arboretum. Gardens are in bloom, trees are at their greenest, and a bevy of beautiful plants are pleasingly arranged in containers. Take in the colors on the East Side in the Ground Cover, Hedge, and Herb Gardens. On the West Side, explore the beautiful Four Seasons, Wild, and Fragrance Gardens. Then set off on walking trails or biking roads to enjoy the scenic tree collections, especially around the lakes and ponds. And, don't miss the Schulenberg Prairie just burgeoning with plants, butterflies, birds, and insects.
While all of the Arboretum's grounds are gorgeous this time of year, here we highlight several choice spots.
In the Maze Garden, meander through hallways of cool greenery to find seven outdoor “rooms” of plants with seasonal interest. Some summertime favorites include Autumn Jazz® southern arrowwood, Eastern white pine, and Northwind switch grass, whose sound and movement is complemented by late summer blooms. Enjoy the view from above by climbing to a 12-foot high, shady lookout platform built around a stunning, 60-foot tall Sycamore tree.
To step into this 100-acre tallgrass prairie in mid-summer almost feels like crossing the threshold of a mysterious and exotic world-yet much of our regional landscape was prairie until about 200 years ago. The names of the native plants are as colorful as their blooms, and hint at long and interesting histories: Compass plant, prairie indigo, milkweed, purple coneflower, rattlesnake master, prairie dock, wild bergamot, lead plant, blazing star. The tall grasses--beautiful in themselves--help prop up the top-heavy flowering plants. While meandering this shoulder-high maze of flowers and grasses, imagine their roots burrowed deep into the ground to help the plants cope with the drought and heat of summer. Look for birds, dragonflies, butterflies, and other fauna here, too.
Joy Path is named for the Arboretum's founder, Joy Morton, who enjoyed walking its length from his Thornhill mansion south to Lake Marmo. Along the 0.3 mile path are sunny perennial gardens, cool native woods, scenic plant collections, and impressive specimen plants, including some of the Arboretum's oldest plantings near the Thornhill mansion. On lower Joy Path, you'll encounter majestic oak and walnut trees.
At the far north end of Joy Path, find a half-acre hidden gem of a garden that encloses you in its cool shade. Relax on one of the inviting benches, listen to the bubbling fountain, and breathe in calming aromas of flowers, fruit, and foliage. White Cloud lesser calamint, Catherine the Great Oriental-trumpet lily, rugosa rose, and big-leaved hydrangea, will perk up your "scent-ses".
Showcasing plants suitable for a home landscape, the Ground Cover Garden also offers a cool and pleasant respite in the heat of summer. More than 350 different plants cohabitate in this tranquil, partly shaded garden, including trees and woody shrubs. Asian fleece flower, maynight salvia, Rozanne geranium, Miss Manners obedient plant are among the numerous, gorgeous plants that show off in summer.