THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 Page 5 Saugus gardens in the pandemic Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener F oliage continues to develop all over town. The red maples (Acer rubrum) mentioned last week are near peak now, with spectacular displays of red, orange and yellow along Walnut Street near Birch Pond. Leaves on the two black walnuts (Juglans nigra) between the Ironworks parking lot and Central Street are solid gold, and their rounded nuts are beginning to drop. The nuts look like tennis balls, but if you can get through the outer husk to the nuts beneath, they taste good. This interesting species has a chemical, juglone, in its roots, which discourages growth of some other plant species, including rhododendrons, azaleas and tomatoes. Ironworks rangers have speculated they may be descendants of the famous Cheever (or Parker) Walnut mentioned in James Simmons’ 1919 book “The Historic Trees of Massachusetts,” but no one knows for sure. Two sugar maples (Acer saccharum) on the Ironworks upper lawn are brilliant orange, and the highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) on the other side of that lawn are now vivid red. It’s a colorful time to visit, and the forge, slitting mill and furnace will only be open until the 31st. Chrysanthemums have become the undisputed queen Point at the tip of Long Island, N.Y., is also sometimes called Nippon daisy for its country of origin, Japan, which is also called Nippon. Montauk daisy often continues blooming into November in our climate, and its leaves remain green late into the winter. Most people picture daisies as having yellow “centers” and white “petals.” As a GARDENS | SEE PAGE 9 SALES • RENTALS • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT NUTS FROM WALNUT TREES: They look like tennis balls, but if you can get through the outer husk to the nuts beneath, they taste good. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) of the fl owers for fall in many countries, including the United States. The ones we grow as fall decorations are just a few varieties of the species often called garden mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium). One of the most frequent questions asked about this species is whether it will return year after year as a perennial in our climate. There are at least a thousand different varieties so it is not easy to tell by looking, but local nurseries generally sell hardy varieties for our area, and if in doubt you can always ask. Also sometimes called floBLACK WALNUTS IN FALL GLORY AT IRONWORKS PARKING LOT: Their leaves are solid gold and their rounded nuts are beginning to drop. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Laura Eisener) rists’ daisy because the longlasting flowers of this species are more easily used in arrangements than other daisy species, such as Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum superbum) developed by Luther Burbank, the oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) of fields and meadows that was brought here from Europe centuries ago, and Montauk daisy (Nipponanthemum nipponicum), which is one of the last “daisy” fl owers to bloom in our climate. Montauk daisy, so-called because it has escaped from gardens to beaches on Montauk VARADA PROPERTIES service with integrity Serving Greater Boston Since 2008 FOR SALE $989,900 TWO-FAMILY PROPER westside • prime location 8 ELSIE STREET • MALDEN INCOME POTENTIAL 617 • 606 • 0172 AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE CA$H FOR YOUR CAR! DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! Cold Hard Cash For Your Car, Truck or SUV! 2012 KIA SOUL One Owner, Most Power Options, 101K Miles, Warranty, Runs & Looks Great! FUN IN THE SUN $6,500 Easy Financing Available! EddiesAutotech.com PRICED RIGHT! $5,350 781-321-8841 1236 EasternAve • Malden We Pay Cash For Your Vehicle! 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT Leather, Loaded with Moon Roof, One Owner, Warranty, Only 104K Miles
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