It’s still beautiful out there, but it looks like the fall color peak is starting to fade. Be sure to get outside and enjoy it!
- Tupelo trees by the Bus Loop are sporting spectacular reds, oranges, yellows and purples.
- Also by the parking lot and near the main entrance, ginkgos are turning yellow and contrast wonderfully against blue skies.
- The sugar maple trees in the Grand Mallway are spectacular. Our staff has never seen them look prettier than right now.
- The large leaves of pawpaws are buttery yellow. There’s a group of pawpaws in the Children’s Garden and Community Garden Campus.
- The needles of the deciduous bald cypress are turning warm shades of reddish brown (they will regrow this spring). Find these trees in the Children’s Garden near the Sandstone Creek and Word Garden and out in Franklin Park by the Lower Lake.
- Fothergilla, along the pathway on the south side of the Children’s Garden, has shifted to a color reminiscent of warm apricots.
- Katsura has yellow leaves that smell lightly of carrots. See it or smell it by the Children’s Garden whisper bench and near the main parking lot.
- Witch hazel—near the Learning Pavilion in the Children’s Garden—has a beautiful clear yellow flower.
- Ornamental grasses are putting on a nice show right now. Look for plumes and foliage colors. Find a variety in the Crane Conifer Garden & Ornamental Grass Collection and throughout Franklin Park.
- Also out in Franklin Park, white oaks are turning a dark red.
Still going strong from past weeks:
- Oakleaf hydrangeas still have great reds and dark bronzes. Find them in the Botanical Garden Welcome Patio and Brides Garden.
- Viburnum Winterthurs still have great reds and purples. Find them in the Children’s Garden along the curved bridge by the Pollywog Pond.
- Chokeberries are located in the Paul Busse Garden Railway. They have both colored foliage and bright red berries.
- Sassafras near The Ascent in the Children’s Garden are still a wonderful red and purple combo.
- Red maples throughout Franklin Park are a classic fall image.
Wow! Fall really hit this past week. This is the first time in many years that there are plenty of colorful fall leaves. Bundle up this week to enjoy some time outside or head out this weekend when it’s predicted to be warm and sunny.
You couldn’t ask for a better time to enjoy how beautiful Central Ohio is right now.
- Fragrant sumac is putting on a show along the Botanical Garden pathway, in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden by the stream and along the lower lake in Franklin park
- Witch hazel features lovely colors. Located along the Botanical Garden pathway and throughout the Children’s Garden.
- Fothergilla along the pathway on the south side of the Children’s Garden has unusual, but very pretty, coloring.
- Viburnum Winterthur is loaded with color and is located by the newly renovated Pollywod Pond.
- Hazelnuts—between the pawpaws and the creek in the Children’s Garden—are putting on a really nice show.
- After exiting the Children’s Garden, spot River Birch by the Brides Garden. The foliage is yellow (and falling fast) while the bark is warm tan, velvety brown and cream.
- Nearby, Serviceberries are sporting nice warm orange foliage. Serviceberries are also in the Paul Busse Garden Railway.
- Also found in the garden railway: Aronia and the great red color of the fruit and foliage.
- Sweetgums look nice, located around the Conservatory parking lot and in Franklin Park.
Other interest:
- Orange winterberry in the North Conservatory Bed.
- Ammonia (Bluestars) is a perennial with bright yellow fall color and feathery foliage. See it in the Grand Mallway and in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus.
- Roses are still flowering, rose hips are still looking good and the foliage is starting to turn burnt orange and yellow.
- The pink bracts of the Seven Son Tree are really showing off. Spot them in the Children’s Garden and North Courtyard.
Still going strong from past weeks:
- Red maples throughout Franklin Park.
- Sassafras, located in the Children’s Garden, is a wonderful red/purple.
- Oakleaf hydrangeas and burning bushes, both located in the Botanical Gardens, are bright red.
- Staghorn sumac, located in the Children’s Garden, is showing tons of color in addition to fuzzy red seedheads.
- The sugar maples in the Mallway Allees continue to color up.
The cool temperature and sunshine plus a bit of frost have really kickstarted the plants’ change for winter.
- Silver lindens that flank the Main Entrance are turning yellow.
- Sweetspire shrubs in the entry beds are a wonderful red and purple.
- The American Blackhaw Viburnums look great in shades of red/orange and purple. These are located outside the Hot Shop courtyard.
- Spicebush in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden is a lovely golden yellow. Find these near the rocks scramble on the Sunrise Lawn.
- Pawpaw, the leaves not the fruit, in the Children’s Garden’s My Ohio Woods are turning yellow.
- The lilacs near the stairs on the West Terrace are a dark purple, almost black.
- A few of the sugar maples in the Mallway Allees are turning.
- Throughout the Botanical Gardens and Franklin Park, St. John’s wort is turning apricot yellow. The brighter the light, the brighter the yellow.
Still going strong this week:
- Flowering dogwoods and red maples are putting on an excellent show in the Children’s Garden and in Franklin Park.
- Sassafras, located in the Children’s Garden is turning a wonderful red/ purple. Look for 3 types of leaves. Ovate, a mitten (ovate with a thumb) and ovate with a thumb and a little finger.
- Oakleaf hydrangeas and burning bush, both located in the Botanical Gardens are starting to turn red.
- Sumac, located in the Children’s Garden is starting to turn yellow/orange. Be on the lookout for the burgundy seed heads.
- Persian ironwood, located in Franklin Park between the production greenhouse and the Conifer Collection is starting to color up. Fun fact: these trees are related to witch hazel.
Other interest:
- The perennial Solomon’s Seal in the Children’s Garden’s Reading Garden has turned a pleasant clear yellow.
- For those late pollinators, goldenrod is still a fantastic golden yellow.
- Seven Son Tree, located in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus and North Courtyard. White flowers are followed by bracts, as the fall progresses the bracts turn a vivid burgundy pink. This gives this tree a second colorful show.
- Rose hips are starting to color up. Look for them in the Children’s Garden and in the Community Garden Campus.
- Same as previous weeks: Asters in the Wells Barn, Asters in the Busse, and the Anemone (Community Garden Campus, Bride’s Garden) are as lovely as get out.
Fall hues start to stand out as the temperature drops. There are hints of yellow, orange, red, and even purple that you can see. This is the ideal time to enjoy some hot cocoa while strolling through the Children’s Garden and the Community Garden Campus.
- Kentucky Coffee Tree in the Children’s Garden is starting to turn yellow. These large (24-36″) bipinnately compound leaves are made up of 2″ leaflets.
- Tulip tree, located in the Children’s Garden and in Franklin Park are starting to yellow.
- The Sassafras, located in the Children’s Garden is turning a wonderful red/ purple. Look for 3 types of leaves. Ovate, a mitten (ovate with a thumb) and ovate with a thumb and a little finger.
- Persian ironwood, located in Franklin Park between the production greenhouse and the Conifer Collection is starting to color up. Fun fact: these trees are related to witch hazel.
- Sumac, located in the Children’s Garden is starting to turn yellow/orange. Be on the lookout for the burgundy seed heads.
- Viburnums everywhere- lots of cultivars to look at. Look for dark reds, burgundy and oranges.
- Hornbeams, located in Franklin Park and in the Children’s Garden are showing warm yellowy tans.
Still going strong this week:
- The flowering dogwoods and red maples are putting on an excellent show in the Childrens Garden and in Franklin Park.
- The persimmons in the parking lot are yellowing and the fruit is dropping.
- The oakleaf hydrangeas and burning bush, both located in the Botanical Gardens are starting to turn red.
Other interest:
- Seven Son Tree, located in the Community Garden Campus, North Courtyard, and CGC. White flowers are followed by bracts, as the fall progresses the bracts turn a vivid burgundy pink. This gives this tree a second colorful show.
- Rose hips are starting to color up. Look for them in the Children’s Garden and in the Community Garden Campus.
- Same as last week: Asters in the Wells Barn, Asters in the Busse, and the Anemone (Community Garden Campus, Bride’s Garden) are as lovely as get out.
As we near the end of September, fall foliage is just beginning to show its true colors. You will discover more hints of red and yellow in the trees and beautiful fruit that will be sure to catch your eye.
- The oakleaf hydrangeas and burning bush in the botanical gardens are starting to turn red.
- The female winterberry holly has gorgeous red berries, which are currently hidden by green leaves. Once the leaves drop, the berries will be a wonderful distraction from our gray winters.
- Roughleaf dogwood in the Children’s Garden has lovely white fruit, this is a favorite with birds and other wildlife.
- Asters in the Wells Barn Parking lot are just starting to show their purple faces. White aster – Snowflurry with its tiny flowers is blooming in Paul Busse Garden Railway.
- Goldenrod in the Wells Barn Parking lot and in the Botanical Gardens is gold as can be.
- The Obedient plant in the Community Garden Campus Pollinators Garden is flowering strong
- Rudbeckia are also happily flowering throughout the gardens.
A few of the trees starting to show color:
- The persimmons are yellowing and the fruit is dropping. You can spot these in the main parking lot.
- The flowering dogwoods and red maples are putting on a nice show in the Children’s Garden and in the park.
We’re in the early days of fall color this year, the timing of which is impacted by temperature and precipitation. You’ll notice hints of change in the trees but the most eye-catching colors at this point come from autumn blooms, berries, fruits and nuts:
- Ohio buckeyes and many of the oaks have already dropped most of their nuts, creating a feast for the squirrels.
- American Strawberry bush located in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden. The red fruits look like strawberries but they’re not!
- Weigela, a flowering shrub with pink blooms also in the Children’s Garden.
- Goldenrod’s yellow blooms are visible in the Grand Mallway and on the Botanical Garden path.
- Chokeberry, located in the Grand Mallway and Paul Busse Garden Railway, has berries in a range of reds, oranges & yellows.
- Anemone, in both white and pink, are blooming throughout the outdoor gardens.
- Rudbeckia are also happily flowering throughout the gardens.
A few of the trees starting to show color:
- Red maples are the most notable. Spot them near the Children’s Garden and in Franklin Park.
- Flowering dogwoods are also in the Children’s Garden, these leaves are turning red-purple.
