Page 8 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 23, 2026 Saugus Gardens in the Fall Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener M idfall is a season when many ornamental grasses are at their best. Most popular grasses bloom between August and October, and some are starting to go to seed, showing silvery seed heads. One of the most colorful ornamental grasses is little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), a native grass that will have stems varying from bluish to reddish through the summer and fall, with shining small seeds in mid-October. It is a very versatile grass, thriving in many natural locations in town. It is equally at home on the ledges of Vinegar Hill, in small pockets of soil on an otherwise hard and dry site, as it is along the riverbank beside the bike trail near the red bridge. Other places it can be found are along the roadside and in seldom mowed meadows. The seeds provide food for birds and other wildlife. One species of ornamental grass that has been very popular in recent decades has been placed on the list of invasive species in Massachusetts. This is maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis), which includes the popular horizontally banded or “striped grasses” known as zebra grass or porcupine grass and other green varieties. Its tassel shaped seed heads are very decorative, but they have been determined to crowd out native grass species in some ROUNDUP | FROM PAGE 7 fensive player and, according to Martinez, effectively neutralized her. Senior captain Amanda Rezendes, sophomore Georgia Condakakes, junior Alannah Duong and freshman Mikayla Le also contributed strong defensive performances. Martinez praised the leadership of her three senior captains — Deleidi, Garcia and Rezendes — for maintaining a positive attitude and keeping their teammates focused throughout a challenging seaLittle bluestem, a colorful native grass, grows in the ledges atop Vinegar Hill in Lynnhurst. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) places within this state after expanding beyond gardens. There is a definitely spooky look to some of the gardens around town this month. With skeletons scrambling out of lawns, ghosts hovering around porch roofs and some jack-o’-lanterns, real and artificial, looking like they have malicious intentions, Saugus certainly appears to have a Halloween spirit. Even some of the wildlife may be joining in: Double crested cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) on the docks and boats in East Saugus seem to be trying son. She called the Beverly performance a complete team effort, emphasizing the players’ willingness to adjust, trust the game plan and compete until the final whistle. BOYS SOCCER SHOWS RESILIENCE WHILE SHORTHANDED The Saugus boys soccer team also gave Beverly a difficult challenge despite suffering a 2-0 defeat. Coach Josh Crespo’s squad played nearly the entire secCormorants dry their wings along the Saugus River in East Saugus. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) to resemble bats, with their wings outspread. Ornithologists will tell you they are drying the salt water out of their wings, since they often swim slightly submerged as they search for fish in the tidal sections of the river. The scientific names of several cormorant species have been reassigned in recent years, and scientists do not all agree on the distinctions between species in the cormorant family (Phalacrocoracidae). Most parts of the world have some types of cormorants, but most of those we are likely to see in New England are double-crested cormorants. ond half with 10 players following a red card but managed to keep the game scoreless until the final 12 minutes. The Sachems spent much of the second half defending under pressure, and Crespo said fatigue eventually caught up with his players. Still, he was pleased with the determination they showed while playing at a numerical disadvantage. The loss followed another 2-0 defeat against Swampscott, but the performance against Beverly offered encouragement as Saugus con“Cinnamon Stick” little bluestem grass grows in a garden around red chrysanthemums. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) tinues through the closing weeks of its season. VOLLEYBALL CONTINUES REBUILDING DESPITE WINLESS RECORD The Saugus volleyball team remains in search of its first victory after falling to Salem, 3-0, on Oct. 19, dropping to 0-16. But coach Mikayla Niles believes the team’s record does not reflect the competitiveness she has seen throughout the season. Saugus pushed Wilmington to five sets in a 3-2 loss Oct. 12 and has taken sets from several opponents, including Swampscott and Masconomet. Niles said the biggest challenge has been closing out competitive sets, particularly with a roster featuring only two returning varsity players from last season. A bright spot has been Danielle Braga, who recently moved into the libero position. Niles praised Braga’s performance against Salem, calling ROUNDUP | SEE PAGE 11
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