Saturday, April 28, 2018

2018.4.28 Hoyt again

4/28, Saturday, cloudy and rain occasionally. Temperature has dropped to the normal 50s. Went to Hoyt again. It was celebrating its 90th birthday this weekend. I took the seasonal highlight tour. There was supposed to be a birthday cake and story time before the walk.

We started on Beech Trail, saw the fine hair on the spine of the leave, and the copper leaves of a copper beech. Next is Devil's Walking Stick with spiny trunk and branches. Then we were told that Dogwood "flower" is actually the bract holding the real flowers inside, in a cluster. These tiny flowers don't bloom at the same time. Their leaves have latex-like substance, and if you break, you'll see the stringy threads.

Then it's the Maple section. I didn't know that all trees that produce twin seeds with wings are classified as maple. Father David's Maple has oval leaf and green bark. Right now is maple flowering time. I took many photos.

The next section is magnolia. The trees are in various stages of dropping flowers. Magnolia is pollinated by special beetles. We returned to the visitor center via Winter Garden. Daphne is blooming with a sweet smell.

Never rained during the walk. Even had brief moments of sunshine.