The Morton Arb

Trees & Gardens

How Plants are Named
The words in the scientific name of a plant all mean something. Learn how plants get such interesting names. Click here

How To Read a Plant Label at the Arboretum

Winter - Sharpen your senses in a serene wonderland

After months of brilliant color, subtlety returns to the landscape. We look to conifers and broadleaf evergreens for color. We reach out to branches, bark, and ground covers for texture. The occasional blanket of fresh-fallen snow and ice-encrusted plants remind us that nature too needs time out to rest and rejuvenate. Temperatures fall, shadows elongate, and ice crystals glisten in the winter sun. When you visit the Arboretum during this time of quiet beauty, notice the stark contrast of dark and light and the muted colors of leaf and bough.

While all of the Arboretum's grounds are gorgeous this time of year, here we highlight several choice spots.

Audio Podcasts

Listen now or download and go!

Winter is in the Details (runs 9:47)

Winter is Serene (runs 4:46)

Listen to other audio podcasts