THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 Page 9 SAUGUS GARDENS IN THE PANDEMIC Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener t's definitely tulip time all over Saugus! The most popular tulip varieties, Darwin hybrids which come in almost every color of the rainbow except true blue, are flowering in Saugus this week. While there are other kinds of tulips which flower earlier and some a little later, these are the ones we usually have in mind when we think of tulips. Some are blooming at the Saugus Iron Works, where they remind us of what was happening in the Netherlands during the 17th century. The Iron Works was first in operation in 1646, but just a little earlier in that century the Netherlands was I TULIP TIME IN SAUGUS: tulips from the Netherlands in the Casolis’ garden. (Courtesy photos to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) gripped by tulip mania, and bulb prices soared – suddenly in 1637 prices plummeted. Law Offices of Terrence W. Kennedy 512 Broadway, Everett • Criminal Defense • Personal Injury • Medical Malpractice Tel: (617) 387-9809 Cell: (617) 308-8178 twkennedylaw@gmail.com Some of the most sought-after color combinations were those of “broken” tulips, which had intriguing patterns caused by a virus. The stories now just add to the aura and intrigue of the many colors of tulips we see now. Modern multicolored tulips are created through breeding programs rather than a virus. A bit of the Netherlands appears on Adams Avenue, where tulips bloom in the front yard of the Casoli family. They took a bucket list trip there in the spring of 2017, visited the famous flower displays and were inspired to order bulbs, which are now blooming for the second year. They include unusual varieties and color combinations and make a beautiful splash of color along Adams Avenue. Among them are a few daffodils and a hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis). Hostas which will fill in the space left as the tulip foliage fades can be seen emerging from the ground nearby. Hostas and daylilies are popular companions for bulb plantings, since they are just beginning to emerge from the ground now and will bloom later to distract from yellowing foliage as the bulbs go dormant in early summer. Today is Arbor Day! Last year Saugus got a lot of new street trees planted thanks to a grant that Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) applied for and to a generous donation from Al DiNardo, and these trees are already beautifying the town. Anyone heading toward the Iron Works will be noticing the beautiful pink flowers on one of the new trees along Central Street, an SHADES OF THE NETHERLANDS: Tulips at the Saugus Iron Works. A CLOSER LOOK: Okame cherry blossoms on a Central Street tree. BEAUTIFUL PINK: Okame cherry in bloom on Central Street. SPRING COLORS: Multicolored tulips and one hyacinth in the Casolis’ garden. Okame cherry (Prunus 'Okame') and new leaves coming out on many other new street trees in town. You may have noticed the signs near the boundaries of town – Saugus has been a Tree City USA for 22 years. The Tree City USA program was started by the Arbor Day Foundation in 1976 to encourage towns and cities across the country to plant GARDENS | SEE PAGE 12
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