The F.R. Newman Arboretum at Cornell Botanic Gardens will open to vehicles Friday, April 13, at 9 a.m., following its annual winter closure.
New this spring: Thousands of bulbs will bloom in two locations in the arboretum. Chionodoxa luciliae (blue in color) will emerge in three circles in Jackson Grove; look for the planting in the grove of trees immediately north of Arboretum Road and before reaching the intersection of Weeping Willow Road. These are early bloomers, and should present their glory as April warms.
An early summer display of Allium Purple Sensation (A. atropurpureum, A. nigrum and A. sphaerocephalum) will flank the mown path in Newman Meadow near the entrance to the Arboretum at Caldwell Drive, between the Nut Tree Collection and Slim Jim Woods.
The bulb plantings are a collaboration between Cornell Botanic Gardens and Professor William Miller, of the School of Integrative Plant Science. More than 70,000 bulbs were planted in October 2017 in the arboretum and outside the Nevin Welcome Center using an innovative mechanical bulb planter and bulbs donated by David Strabo ’80, of Longfield Gardens.
