What’s in Bloom

Spring is finally here. So get outside and see what’s in bloom on the Greenway.

Urban Arboretum

The Greenway’s Urban Arboretum (between Oliver St. and High St.) offers a lovely display of soft pink blossoms from our Okame Cherry Trees. A hybrid of the Japan-native Fuji cherry (Prunus incisa) and East Asia-native Bell-flowered Cherry (Prunus campanulata), the Okame Cherry was first bred and introduced in 1947. To this day it remains one of the most popular cherries in American Gardens. The Okame Cherry is of particular interest to southern gardeners as it does not need the same cold winter many other flowering cherries require in order to produce a significant bloom set.

Okame Cherry Tree (Prunus x incamp 'Okame')

North End Parks – Pergola

The North End Pergola is on the verge of exploding with color with a mix of bulbs providing a wide range of oranges, yellows, whites, purples and blues. The planting is made up of four different types of bulbs: Trumpet Daffodil, Squill, and two species of Crocus.

Both species of crocus planted in the Pergola are native to Europe. The Snow Crocus is known for flowering earlier in the season, whereas the Spring Crocus produces larger, showier flowers. Snow Crocus varieties usually flower yellow, whereas Spring Crocus generally range from blue to lavender or purple, though yellow varieties are common as well.

Spring Crocus (Crocus vernus)

‘Topolino’ is a variety of Trumpet Daffodil, defined by its one flower per stem characteristic, as well as its corona or central “cup”, which is as long as or longer than its outer petals. Topolino however, is smaller than most other Trumpet Daffodils, growing only 8-10” in height rather than the 14-18” generally characteristic of this type of Daffodil.

Trumpet Daffodil (Narcissus ‘Topolino’)

The Alpine Squill is native to Europe and Turkey, and though it is less often planted than its relative, Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica), it spreads less aggressively. Fans of Hyacinths may notice a resemblance in flower structure, between Squill and Hyacinth, particularly as the flower first begins to open. In fact Squill is a close relative of both Hyacinths and Bluebells (Hyacinthoides).

Alpine Squill (Scilla bifolia)

Also worth viewing is the display of Narcissus ‘King Alfred Jumbo’ (also a Trumpet Daffodil) in the North End Boxwood Beds. Travelers along the sidewalk bordering Surface Road will be greeted by a bright sea of yellow Daffodils.

Narcissus ‘King Alfred Jumbo’

Keep an eye on Fort Point Channel Parks as it begins to flower over the next few weeks.