Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, JUnE 20, 2025 Saugus Gardens in the Summer Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener T oday is the longest day of the year, also known as the summer solstice, which is traditionally considered the first day of summer. We may have summer days ahead with warmer temperatures, but gradually the days will grow shorter as we approach fall. Sandy Mears is enjoying the blossoms of her China rose (Rosa chinensis), a deep pink classic rose blossom with a deep fragrance. This species has a long and important history. When Shakespeare wrote “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” he thought of roses as a June blooming flower, but today we are spoiled by having roses for many months. Many modern roses bloom all summer long, even into the fall and early winter. In the centuries since Shakespeare’s time, European roses have been hybridized with the China rose (Rosa chinensis) not only to give us a wide range of flower colors, shapes, scents and other features but also the ability to continue blooming for months on end, not just for the month of June. The repeat blooming China rose was not introduced to Europe until late in the 18th century. Since then, many new rose hybrids have been introduced that have this reblooming characteristic. More new buds can be encouraged by removing spent flowers. If the old flowers are not removed, the plant will put its energy into production of fruit called hips, which can be decorative in themselves. Rose hips are also known for being China rose blooming in Sandy Mears’ garden (Photo courtesy of Sandy Mears) edible when cooked with sugar, and are high in vitamin C. Sandy’s garden also has several peony varieties in bloom this month. Another very rewarding plant that can be expected to be flowering now and then rebloom later in summer is ‘Blue Marvel’ woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’). This is a compact variety with attractive bluish-purple flowers in June and usually blooms again in July and late August or September. It is closely related to the pinkish-purple variety ‘Rose Marvel.’ Both of these woodland sage varieties grow well in sun or partial shade and are not appetizing to deer or rabbits. A closely related perennial A blue and white bouquet at Arthur Vitale Park beside the Saugus River (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) The bouquet includes white allium, gerbera daisies, roses, blue hydrangeas and sea holly. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) to the woodland sage is ‘Snow Hill’ sage (Salvia sylvestris ‘Snow Hill), which is flowering now in Dee LeMay’s garden. This is a close relative of ‘May Night,’ which has deep purple blossoms. The flower stalks are a little taller and narrower than those of Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’ and ‘Rose Marvel.’ Many people are noticing Catalpa trees are blooming in several places around town. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) clusters of white blossoms on trees with large oval to heartshaped leaves. There are a few noticeable ones near the trombone intersection where Lynn Fells Parkway crosses Route 1, and others here and there in gardens and along the roadside. The two species of catalpa, northern catalpa and southern catalpa (Catalpa speciosa and Catalpa bignonioides, respectively) are very similar in ap‘Snow Hill’ sage in Dee LeMay’s garden (Photo courtesy of Dee LeMay) ‘Blue Marvel’ sage in Sandy Mears’ garden (Photo courtesy of Sandy Mears) pearance, with white flowers and long bean-shaped fruits, although they are not in the bean family (Fabaceae). They have been grown in gardens for their fragrant and showy flowers, and they grow very quickly from seed. A seed from another tree grew up spontaneously in my garden just a few years ago and is now nearly 10’ tall and produced flowers for the first time this week. Vitale Park on Ballard Street has a blue and white bouquet on the Artorius sculpture, remaining from the scholarship ceremony held every year around graduation time. The park is named for Saugus Police Officer Harold Vitale, who was born June 14, 1943, and died in the line of duty June 18, 1985. This year’s flower arrangement includes white allium (Allium spp.), gerbera daisies (Gerbera hybrida), roses (Rosa spp.), blue hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) and sea holly (Eryngium planum). 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 offered 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.
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