Celebrating Turkeys, Native Plants, and Aldo Leopold

Last week, I visited the UW-Madison Arboretum, which surprisingly turned out to be great day to stop by. Children's programs were in progress, so it was fun to see the kids interacting with the critters and learning about the plants. The turkeys, in particular, seemed "excited" about the youthful activity.

I regularly volunteer at the Arb, but is was nice to wander around, observe, and enjoy at my own pace. Many plants in the Native Plant Garden were blooming, budding, and thriving after plentiful rain and sun, including:

Spiderwort



White Wild Indigo



Canada Anemone





Wild Roses



Field Oval Sedge



Smooth Phlox



Common Milkweed



Lead Plant



Oxeye Sunflower



Also, I had time to observe and enjoy the "Preserve" art installation, near the Arboretum Visitor Center. If you live in or near Madison, or plan a visit, check out the display.

It draws inspiration from Aldo Leopold, author of A Sand County Almanac, and research director for the Arboretum for 15 years, from 1933-1948.



The display showcases 1,000 documented species, demonstrating local ecological richness while inspiring conservation action and environmental stewardship.



The display is beautiful and educational.

Visitors can "sit awhile" inside the enclosure, on comfortably arranged Leopold benches. "Preserve" is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area. It will be in place through September 27, 2025.

Next up: More coverage of the Memphis Garden Fling. It was a stunner!

Beautiful Parks and Views in Memphis

View of the Hernando de Soto Bridge from Tom Lee Park

The first day of the Memphis Fling took us to the edge of the Mississippi River. Two parks offered beautiful views of the surrounding area, including lovely walkways, native plants, and views of the Hernando de Soto Bridge, sometimes called the "M" bridge.



Tom Lee Park spans 31 acres, with a planting design that prioritizes biodiversity, seasonal interest, and long-term resilience. It's named after Tom Lee, a Memphis resident who rescued 32 passengers from a capsized steamer in 1925. Passing by in his small wooden skiff, Lee's rescue was all the more remarkable because he couldn't swim!



Visionary Point, closed when we walked by, offers a climb to a higher spot for an even loftier view.



Fellow Flingers were anxious to learn more about the history of the city and its riverfront parks.

Not far from Tom Lee Park is the Memphis River Garden, providing native habitat that nurtures pollinators, birds, small mammals, and human visitors. While we were there, many native plants were on lush display in various stages of growth, including the native Swamp Roses (Rosa palustris), included in my previous post. Others included:

Baptisia australis

The lush seedpods of Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis),

Echinacea tennesseensis

Flowers of various Echinaceas, including Tennessee Coneflower (E. tennesseensis), and 

Monarda fistulosa

Developing blooms of Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa).

Our first tour day in Memphis was rewarding. And I must say the city's gardens, overall, exceeded my expectations. Stay tuned for more memories of a wonderful trip to the Bluff City.

Wordless Roses at the Memphis Garden Fling

[Note: All Roses shown here, and many more, were blooming in Memphis during The Fling. Most are horticultural hybrids. The last, I believe, is the straight species Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris), native to much of the Eastern United States.]

A Simple Early Summer Bouquet

I prepared a very simple vase this week, for reasons I'll share at the end. Thanks to Cathy for hosting In a Vase on Monday.

The star of the show is Ornamental Onion Allium 'Globemaster.'



Just as lovely, and supporting the star, is Cranberrybush Viburnum (V. trilobum). The blooms are a little more open than last week, but still good elements for the arrangement.



The Viburnum foliage is fun, too. It forms the framework, along with the three Hosta leaves.



The Siberian Irises (I. sanguinea) are blooming now, as well, so I included a couple stems in the arrangement.



Here's a view of one out in the garden.



So, it's a simple collection. Head on over to Rambling in the Garden to share your garden arrangements, and to see others from around the world.

I'm taking a little break from blogging for a few days, as I'll soon head to the Garden Fling in Memphis, Tenn. The Fishman is caring for the puppy, kitty, and garden while I'm gone. I'll have many things to report on when I get back!