THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 2022 Page 11 A COLORFUL INTERSECTION: A waterfall of forsythia and pink fl owering plum greet Saugonians at the corner of Chestnut and Winter Streets. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) old elm on Main Street is beginning to leaf out — you can still see the fan-shaped framework of the branches, but the green leaves are getting a little bigger and more noticeable every day. Cherries and plums continue to fl ower in many places around town, and several types of magnolia are also in bloom. This has so far been a great year for magnolia — some springs the fl owers begin to open only to be struck by freezing weather that destroys the blossoms before they can reach their peak of beauty. This year, the cool but not freezing temperatures have favored the fl owers and permitted them to bloom for a few weeks without damage from storms or cold. One particularly striking pair of pale yellow magnolias bloom on Main Street at the Roby school, just a few steps from Saugus Center. Red maples (Acer rubrum) are somewhat past fl owering, as most were at peak bloom in March and early April. Now the winged seeds are developing that will be distributed on the wind to grow new trees. Some trees have samaras that are green while others of the same species are bright red. These diff erences can be observed in wild trees as well as cultivated specimens. In addition to the show of fl owering trees, several shrubs, including the bright yellow forsythia (Forsythia intermedia) and P.J.M. Rhododendron (Rhododendron ‘P.J.M.’), are at peak bloom now. These shrubs can be found in every neighborhood. Daff odils continue to bloom and are being joined by tulips in many colors and by blue grape hyacinths (Muscari spp.). An especially stunning tulip display can be seen at Kelly’s Roast Beef — visible from the Route 1 side and much enjoyed by anyone going through the drive-thru window. Like the famous Keukenhof gardens near Amsterdam in the Netherlands — world-famous for its tulip displays — Kelly’s garden has colorful beds fi lled with patches of tulips in diff erent colors arranged like a crazy quilt. Many birds are nesting locally and their songs enliven our woods and gardens. I have seen some gathering twigs and bringing them back to build their nests in the trees, and one was trying to decide how to fi t a wide twig through the round doorway in my neighbor’s birdhouse recently. In North Saugus, the Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), with its colorful plumage, has been spotted. Charles Zapolski has seen them in his neighborhood. They seem to prefer shrubby habitat, such as dense thickets. Editor’s Note: Laura Eisener is a landscape design consultant who helps homeowners with landscape design, plant selection and placement of trees and shrubs, as well as perennials. She is a member of the Saugus Garden Club and off ered to write a series of articles about “what’s blooming in town” shortly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inspired after seeing so many people taking up walking. A PRETTY, OVERSIZED SPARROW: This Eastern towhee, with its colorful plumage, has been spotted in North Saugus. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Charles Zapolski) TULIPS ON DISPLAY: Blooms near the drive-thru window at Kelly’s on Route 1. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener)
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