Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 SAUGUS GARDENS IN THE FALL Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener A mong the iconic flavors of fall, apples have a special significance in New England. Seeds to begin apple orchards counted among the prized possessions of early European settlers arriving in Massachusetts. Governor Endecott (later spelled Endicott) planted apples, pears and other fruit trees in 1633 on his large estate located in what is now part of Danvers. While none of the apple trees survive, there is a single pear tree on the site which has endured for nearly 400 years. By the early 19th century, many orchards had matured. Jonathan Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, set off around then from Leominster, Mass., to distribute apple seeds to settlers in the west. Apple cider donuts, apple turnovers, apple fritters, apple crisp and, of course, apple cider itself, are now considered “as American as apple pie.” In most parts of New England, it is common to come across some naturalized apple trees on roadsides and semi-wild areas. While they will not thrive in the shade of mature woodlands, they often survive at the edges of meadows, along railroad tracks and similar places. Reminders of apple-related locations remain in names of streets all over New England. Apple Lane and Orchard Avenue near the high school, and Cider Mill Road and Vinegar Hill Drive in Lynnhurst are examples in Saugus. The name Vinegar Hill implies apples growing there were suitable primarily for vinegar! A few apple trees with small fruit survive near the rock outcrops at the top, but these are probably grown from seeds brought by birds from gardens nearby. The photo of an apple-laden branch was taken at Rumney Marsh, along the roadbed that was built for the proposed Route 95 paralleling Route 107. Generally speaking, apple varieties which produce fruit larger than 2" are called apples, while those with smaller fruit are known as crabapples. Smaller fruited varieties were generally bred as ornamental trees, so their fruit might be less sweet, but the flowers are just as pretty, and small fruit may be eaten by wildlife or are at least too small to require much cleaning up. Apple trees, as well as other fruit trees and small bushes like blueberry, blackberry and raspberry, have been much in demand during the last year and a half. All of the popular fruit trees, such as apple, pear, peach and cherry, are in the rose family (Rosaceae). Although summer has come to ANOTHER FALL BLOOMER: “Autumn Crocus” (Colchicum autumnale). (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Margie Berkowitch) FRUIT FOR WILDLIFE: Wild apples (Malus sp.) at Rumney Marsh. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) SAUGUS | FROM PAGE 7 Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Invesan end, the rose blooming season has not. Many rose (Rosa spp.) species and hybrids, especially those with Asian backgrounds, continue flowering quite late into the fall. Beach rose, also known as rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) came originally from China and Japan. It has been planted to stabilize sand dunes for so long that people often assume it is native here. This rose is extremely tolerant of salt spray. It has been planted in some locations along Route 1 because it is well adapted to the salts remaining in the soil after winter snowplowing. While this rose typically begins blooming in June and produces its last blossoms in October, the red fruits known as rose hips often remain well into winter. Rugosa rose flowers have five petals, usually deep pink, pale pink or white surrounding a yellow center. The fruits are edible and high in vitamin C, but need cooking and sweetening to be palatable. While many other roses require good soil and ample nutrients in order to flourish, rugosa rose is sometimes straggly in too rich a soil. Sandy sites in sunny locations are usually best, and these are the sort of places it grows in its natural habitat in Asia. An outstanding feature of this rose is its intense fragrance – pleasant memories of coastal vacations usually tigations in Boston; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. The SufBLOOMING IN THE FALL: Rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa) near the Ballard Street trailhead at Rumney Marsh. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) A HAPPY LANDING: A bright yellow Sulphur butterfly rests on New York asters (Symphiotrichum novibelgii). (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) come with a whiff of the scent of this rose. Flowering bulbs can conjure up an image of spring, but there are a few which bloom in the fall. Two different plants are often called autumn crocus, and this is an example of the trouble with common names. Both grow from bulbs and bloom in September, but they are from different plant families. The one most closely related to our spring crocus is Crocus speciosus, a member of the Iris family (Iridaceae). It has small, blue-purple flowers. The more popular garden plant of the two is not related to crocus. Its scientific name is Colchicum autumnale, a member of the Colchicaceae family. The flowers are larger, showier and pinkish purple rather than bluish. Both produce foliage in the spring – Colchicum’s leaves are wider and taller, while Crocus speciosus’ leaves are narrow and look just like spring crocus leaves. Both plants are mostly dormant in summer, and when they bloom in fall they are not acfolk County Sheriff’s Department and the Revere, Everett and Chelsea Police Departments provided assistance with the investigation. Assiscompanied by any foliage. The natural flavor and coloring saffron is the dried stamens of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), another fall bloomer not quite hardy here. Which would you plant? The Colchicum is likely to survive longer, since crocus flowers and leaves are often consumed by rabbits, and voles eat the bulbs, while the poisonous Colchicum is left alone. Margie Berkowitch has had these autumn bulbs (Colchicum) in her garden for about 30 years, and she says, “I’ve enjoyed them for a very long time.” 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 tant U.S. Attorneys Corey Steinberg and Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
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