Monday, April 21, 2008

Magnolia Madness!

Magnolia Madness!

The first heady sight and scent of 2008's floral parade arrived this week, with the early "Star" stellata and "Japanese tree" kobus magnolias now in full bloom. Notable specimens of the former stand in front of Newburyport City Hall and of the latter in the backyard at 227 Middle Street, West Newbury.

If you'd like to see our trees up close and personal, and also take a tour of early spring flora and fauna in a unique microcosm, please join me on Thursday, April 24 at 12 noon or Friday, April 25, at 8 a.m.

Our three parent trees have seeded hundreds of offspring, and the ground between them is carpeted with trout lilies, wood violets and anemones, with marsh marigolds,skunk cabbage, false hellebore and early fiddleheads along the stream and through the woods. Perhaps you'll see ideas you can incorporate into your own natural spaces.

And speaking of beautiful, natural places: please bring family and friends to help in Earth Day clean-ups next weekend! On Saturday, April 26 your help would be appreciated along the trails at River Bend Conservation Area in West Newbury. Wear rubber boots, bring gloves, trash bags and loppers to either the southern end of River Road or the Way-to-the-River end of the trail. Dumpsters will be waiting for all the flotsam and jetsam we can remove, having floated down the river and ending up in West Newbury!

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