10/14/2008      57°F | Cloudy
The University of Michigan
Arb Parking Tip There are often FREE street parking spaces available on Oswego St. near the Arb's Geddes Street entrance. Click here for a map.
what's in bloom
Summer is a great time to visit the spectacular Gateway Garden of New World Plants at the Botanical Gardens. The ornamental plants in this garden are originally native to the Americas. Check out the bloom calendar.
Looking for a central location to hold a group meeting? How about catching up on some of your reading at a riverside bench? We have some of the University's best study spots.

Heathdale exhibits the Julie Norris Post Collection of Ericaceous and Appalachian Plants in a secluded cove nestled east and below the Peony Garden. Members of the heath family, ericaceous plants have specialized relationships with soil fungi and in our climate need a protected site, sheltered from summer heat and winter cold, and typically acid soils to thrive. Many of the plants featured here are common in the Appalachian Mountains.
 
As spring progresses from May to June, here you will find a progression of bloom from mixtures of numerous azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), evergreen Catawba and Rosebay rhododendrons (Rhododendron catawbiense and R. maximum), along with dog-hobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana) and mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). In addition to the native oak-hickory forest setting, other attractive plants include hemlock (Tsuga canadensis, T. caroliniana, and T. sieboldii), various dogwoods (Cornus spp.), witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), and masses of native ferns and woodland wildflowers. Some of these plants date from plant collecting expeditions in the 1920s; others have been added in the past decade.

Heathdale is at the Nichols Arboretum site.

Through generous gifts from the Post family, the Julie Norris Post Heathdale Collection is endowed. Annual disbursements and other gifts help fund the continued maintenance and care of this special location. Opportunities exist to endow and name other areas of Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. For more details, please contact the Development Office at 1-734-615-9475.

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