Ready to start planning your edible landscape? February is the month to begin your garden and start seeds of cool season vegetable plants indoors. Come to Bernheim this Saturday, February 18 for two informative and interactive Smart Gardens & Landscapes workshops. Begin the day by joining Nursery Manager, Renée Hutchison from 10 a.m. – Noon, for a workshop, Planning Your […]
Hollies for the Holidays
December 15, 2016 By |
Of the many plants associated with the holiday season, the Holly has perhaps the oldest history of any other decorative evergreen. The use of holly in holiday tradition dates back to the Greeks and Romans, who adorned their homes with wreaths and garland made from holly boughs. This tradition was thought to predict the outcome of the […]
Invasive Trees Removed from the Arboretum
November 9, 2016 By |
As we research our tree collections, we are continually discovering which species perform best in our region. We also have the opportunity to identify those which have become problematic in our area. If you’ve visited recently, you may have noticed several trees missing from plantings directly opposite the Sun and Shade Trail. Bernheim is currently working to replace […]
Have you ever spotted a Witches’ Broom?
October 6, 2016 By |
Witches’ Broom is a term commonly used for any tight cluster of abnormal branching or twiggy growth within a tree or shrub. Caused by factors including fungus, bacteria, or insect damage, they may appear in evergreen and deciduous trees alike. These odd growths have become popular among plant enthusiasts, who propagate them through a process called grafting to create new […]
The Bugs of Bernheim: Cicada Killers
September 12, 2016 By |
Cicada Killers: who’s listening? On hot summer days, the air is filled with the sound of cicadas. The male’s mating call is a loud series of beats and clicks strung together to make one long, continuous undulating song. While preoccupied with finding love, the cicada has inadvertently captured the attention of another female insect who […]
Vanishing Acts: Wild Apple
May 9, 2016 By |
The apples we know today: brilliant reds, greens, yellows with a hint of blush, were not always so aesthetically pleasing, nor was their taste delightful, sweet, and crisp. The first apples before domestication were actually small hard fruits resembling our common crabapple. Tasteless, unpalatable, and enjoyed only by wildlife, it was from the wild apple […]
Vanishing Acts: Pacific Yew
April 4, 2016 By |
As science and medicine evolves, we gain a greater understanding of the complexities of human diseases and potential curative properties of the species within the earth’s botanical resources. Researchers with the National Cancer Institute partnered with the USDA in the early 1960’s to evaluate possible anti-cancer agents within the world’s forests. Of the species tested, […]
Vanishing Acts: Magnolia Officinalis
March 17, 2016 By |
Magnolia officinalis, sometimes referred to as the Houpa magnolia, is essentially unknown outside of China where it grows only in mountainous regions and valleys. It is a fast growing tree, reaching 50 feet in height, bearing highly aromatic large flowers in the spring. It is prized among Chinese herbalists, not for its flower, but for […]