Arnold Arboretum Walk

Wonderful Fall weather greeted a hardy group of 14 Go'ers for a great walk in Boston's Arnold Arboretum.  It seems that Fall is a bit tardy this year, but to our rescue came the unique Schlesengeri Maple whose brilliant red leaves greeted us as we started the hike.  Ed then took the group off the beaten path, where we discovered many botanical jewels hidden in plain sight.  It helped that the Arboretum staff tag all specimens, and that in addition there are numerous stops with QR readouts to enhance the experience.  It was through the QR system that we learned that the Schlesengeri has now become a very desirable maple variety in the nursery trade, thanks to the Arboretum for introducing it into the landscape.  We also discovered the foundations of Mr. Bussey's house, or rather his retreat "farmhouse" right under Bussey Hill.  He was a great beneficiary of the Arboretum, and it was his donation of the land of his farmhouse that makes the bulk of the acreage of the Arboretum.  Mr. Bussey is described as a "gentleman farmer" who made his wealth as a merchant, and built his farmhouse as a botanical and farming retreat.

After the walk, most of the group went over to another Jamaica Plain institution, the Galway House, for much needed food and beer.  This will sound like a cliché, but I do believe that a great time was had by all.

Join us for this easy walk in Boston's Arnold Arboretum at its Autumn best.  The Arboretum is a unique institution in many ways.  It is a Boston City park, as the land is owned by the city, but yet, the collection of trees and bushes are under the care of Harvard University.  It is also the oldest such institution in the United States, and it is currently celebrating its 150th year of existence.  If you get a chance, read the article by Patricia Harris in the 9/15/22 Travel section of the Boston Globe, but here is an interesting tidbit of information from that article:  "One of the Arboretum’s oldest specimens is the harbinger of fall foliage. The Schlesingeri red maple, propagated in the late 1800s from a tree spotted in a neighbor’s yard by Arboretum founding director Charles Sprague Sargent, is often the first tree to show fall colors. Just after the heat of August dog days, its leaves transition from grassy green to olive green. They soon begin to show deep red tones and reach full color in September. The original specimen is planted near the Arborway Gate, right across the road from the Hunnewell Visitor Center. It’s hard to miss."  We will start the walk right in front of the Hunnewell Center, so we should be able to see it.  From there we will walk away from the main paths and well into the park itself, not only to avoid the crowds, but also to enjoy some of the out-of-the-way wonders of the Arboretum.  We plan to walk about 2-3 miles, but this being a city park, you are free to do as much or as little as you'd like, but please let one of the trip leaders know that you are leaving.  We think we should be done with the walk at around 4:00 p.m., and you are all welcome to join us for a late lunch/early dinner at the always popular Galway House on Jamaica Plain's Centre Street.  Dress appropriately for Boston Fall weather.  Heavy rain will cancel.  We will let you know the day before if that is the case.