It’s Poppin’: June 13

June 13, 2025

As I walked the campuses this week, I was struck by the number of beautiful, calming white blooms. Before we move into the heat of the summer, let’s take a breath and enjoy the sense of purity and peacefulness that white brings in the late spring.

Cleveland Botanical Garden

Let’s start our journey as we step through the gate from terrace into the restorative garden, where white provides relief and relaxation. Did you know the restorative garden was designed to feature white flowers to provide a quiet place of respite to recover and recharge? On your way in, note the beautiful Japanese hydrangea vine, Schizophragma hydrangeoides, on the wall separating the two gardens.

Next, let’s head to white oak walk, where our display of Virginia sweetspire Little Henry (Itea virginica) is reaching peak. This cultivar of a native species of the southern U.S. was selected for its dwarf habit, superior flowers, and excellent fall color.

Finally, a standout in the butterfly garden caught my eye. Another native, New Jersey tea, Ceanothus americanus, a specialist of sandy and rocky soils in nature, was used as a tea substitute during American Revolution after tea imports from abroad ceased.

Holden Arboretum

Our exploration of white continues at the Arboretum. One of my favorite fragrances in our collection is that from sweetbay magnolia, Magnolia virginiana. My favorite specimen is along the path between the lakeside terrace and the shelter along Corning Lake.

Continuing around Corning Lake, I stopped to marvel at the landscapes dominated by hairy beardtongue, Penstemon digitalis. This denizen of meadows across Ohio is blooming in proliferation in Holden grove and the Dick streamside meadow.

Finally, I stopped in the wildflower garden to complete my journey of white. The showy, dangling stamens of tall meadow-rue, Thalictrum pubescens, spangled as they danced in the morning light courtesy of a light breeze.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s journey as we say goodbye to Spring with a wash of white. Enjoy the gardens!

Tom Arbour, M.En.

Curator of Living Collections

As Curator of Living Collections at Holden Forests and Gardens, Tom guides the acquisition and documentation of more than 20,000 plants and trees at Cleveland Botanical Garden and The Holden Arboretum. Significant arboretum collections include oak, crabapple, maple, conifers, and Ohio wildflowers. At the Cleveland Botanical Garden, two biome-based glasshouses contain plants of the Madagascar spiny forest and a rich neotropical rainforest community. Tom is particularly interested in connecting with those wanting to use Holden’s living collections for research. Please contact Tom to learn more about the broad collection of trees and plants at our two campuses.

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