THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 16, 2026 Page 15 Saugus Gardens in the Fall Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener T his should be a great week for foliage in Saugus, as more maples and some other species are turning. The native vine Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is bright red in many places now, and another not very popular native vine, poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), is also very striking in red, orange and yellow tones as it scrambles over the ground and climbs up tree trunks. Both of these provide food for birds and other wildlife, though they can be nuisances to the gardener. The painful allergic reaction to poison ivy in particular is a serious problem for many people. Most flowers blooming in October and November are asters and their family members, but there are also a few unrelated plants that provide dramatic contrast in shape and color, such as the monkshood (Aconitum napellus) blooming in the garden behind St. John’s Church. This deep blue flower is related to Delphinium (Delphinium spp.). They are not eaten by wildlife who seem to know that they are toxic. Some people also may experience a toxic skin reaction to handling the plants, which has made them somewhat more difficult to find in garden centers. Randy Sue Abber recently recognized the invasive insect spotted lanternfly on some plants here in Saugus. Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) has been a significant plant pest for several years now in Massachusetts. It has been found in 145 cities and towns, including Saugus. At this time of year there are adults in the area, and they are laying eggs for the winter. Anyone in Massachusetts who finds spotted lanternfly on their property should contact the Mass. Cooperative Extension — this can be done easily online through the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project. The invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), which has spread in Saugus and The monkshood in the garden behind St. John’s Church on Prospect Street is a late blooming relative of delphinium. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) surrounding towns over recent decades, especially near Route 1 but also other roadside areas, is the favorite host of the lanternfly, but it also attacks apples, grapes and quite a few other crops and ornamental plants. There are several pesticides that have been used to kill lanternflies, but the specific treatment recommended varies depending on the life stage of the insect. The adults are very noticeable, but it is more effective to scrape off egg masses from tree trunks if you see those. Flyers showing these insects and a brief history can be seen displayed in many nurseries and garden centers, and there are many photos and descriptions online from many sites. They do have a very colorful red, white and black color pattern, which makes them noDee LeMay’s canna lily blooms in her garden beside ornamental kale and chrysanthemums in front of a rosebush. (Photo courtesy of Dee LeMay) ticeable in their adult stage. Last year I heard that lanternfly costumes had become very popular for Halloween! We have had some frost warnings on the weather reports, but so far I have not seen any annuals that were damaged by frost in our town. While the first frost essentially ends the growing season, our hardy perennials will return in spring. Typically, the first frost comes here in early November, although sometimes it is significantly earlier or later. Dee LeMay is still enjoying the tall blossoms and colorfully patterned leaves of her canna lily (Canna x generalis). This tropical plant, a hybrid in the canna family (Cannaceae), is not truly a lily, but like many other plants that may not have close relationships with the lily family (Liliaceae), lily is This spotted lanternfly was discovered by Randy Sue Abber in her car this week! She reported it to the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project online, destroyed the insect, and is keeping an eye out for any others in her area. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) part of its most familiar common name. Dee’s canna lily has been blooming through the summer but seems especially floriferous now near the end of the season: a last hurrah before the frost. Luckily cannas are among the “tender bulbs” and rhizomes that can be stored indoors in a dormant state, to be replanted after the last frost in the spring.
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