Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, NOVEmbEr 14, 2025 Saugus Gardens in the Fall Here’s what’s blooming in town this week to make your walks more enjoyable By Laura Eisener M any Saugonians woke up to a cold Veterans Day morning, with the temperatures dropping to freezing for the first time. Only a handful of flowers are likely to continue blooming past the first frost, but we may still see a few plants producing a blossom or two, and there is still some planting time left before the ground completely freezes. Heavy winds and rain several times in the last few weeks have brought down leaves of many colors. Birds like the colorful blue jay (Cyanocitta cristatus) flock to feeders for some comfort food. Leaves of Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are among the last to fall each year. In Japan, the fall foliage season is almost as special as cherry blossom time, and many people collect Japanese maples for the variations in leaf shape, fall color and even summer color. Varieties of Two grasses, annual ‘Purple Majesty’ pearl millet and the narrow stalks of native perennial ‘Cinnamon Stick’ little bluestem, have intriguing dark foliage that makes them decorative. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) Japanese maple that have dark red leaves through the sumFall colors surround the Civil War soldiers’ and sailors’ monument in Saugus Center, and the star has been placed on the spruce in preparation for next month’s tree lighting. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) The star on the spruce gets an adjustment. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) mer are among the most popular choices for accent trees. Many people are not aware that there are Japanese maples that have green leaves through the summer, although these often have the most vivid fall color: red, orange, yellow or a combination. As for leaf shape, there are several varieties with “laceleaf”-style leaves, very finely cut shapes rather than the more familiar pointed lobe styles. If you look across Riverside Cemetery from the sidewalk along Winter Street, one particular tree stands out for its mostly vivid red leaves. This is a Japanese maple growing next to one of the water spigots. Another very striking Japanese maple, with more orange leaves than red, is in the traffic island of Saugus Center’s rotary adjacent to the Civil War monuTwo pumpkins on the sidewalk in East Saugus persisted into November with charming designs. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) ment. Its orange colors are striking beside the bright red burning bush (Euonymus alatus) on the south side of the circle. The rotary tree that will soon be stealing the most attention, though, is one that does not lose its leaves; earlier this week I saw DPW workers in their bucket truck adjusting the star on top of the spruce, and lights being strung between branches of other trees throughout the Saugus Center area. Now that night temperatures A bluejay perches on an elderberry bush in Lynnhurst hoping for some sunflower seeds now that the weather is cold. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) are apt to be below freezing, plants are becoming dormant for winter. The stems and leaves of some grasses may remain standing and hold interest even after their stems and leaves turn brown. The ornamental millet (Pennisetum glaucum, sometimes known as Cenchrus americanus ‘Purple Majesty’) is an annual. I have brought it inside my garage at night in case we have some warmer weather later this month and can still enjoy its colorful leaves and dark seed A Japanese maple’s bright red foliage make it stand out at Riverside Cemetery this week. (Photo courtesy of Laura Eisener) GARDENS | SEE PAGE 21
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