Winterthur Garden Blog

News received this week that work will begin to repair the damaged bridge railing the week of September 3. (Lots of progress has already been made with estimates, contracts, and funding.) Soon, you will see physical progress on the needed repairs. Meanwhile, the Quarry Bridge is losed. If you are careful, you can access the lower sections of the Quarry Garden on the stone steps. – KLS

On Friday evening, a big tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) came down from the center of the Quarry Garden, smashing into the bridge’s iron railing.  Because of the danger of “hangers” falling from the trees and the instability of the railings, the Quarry Garden bridge, along with walking access into the Quarry Garden, is closed.  (Hangers are branches that got knocked off when the great tree fell, but are still hanging in other trees.)  John Salata, our head staff arborist, said he’d never seen a tree fail in this particular way. The roots were solid but somewhat sparse, perhaps compromised by the rocks lining in the Quarry Garden.

When walking in the Winterthur Garden, please avoid the marked off areas near the Quarry Garden. Do not venture into closed-off areas, please!

All that said, other sections of the Winterthur Garden are beautiful this summer. Loads of hydrangeas and day lilies. The graceful white wands of Bugbane or Cimicifuga racemosa float above the perennial layer along the lower March Bank and in Azalea Woods. The huge layer of hosta are just starting to open along the March Bank. very soon they’ll form a carpet of lavender. While inspecting the Quarry Garden bridge, I spoke with a delightful couple who walk here often. They normally start their days with a walk at Longwood, then come to Winterthur several times a week for more exercise and a different style of garden beauty.

A bonus: most of the plants at the museum store are 50% off! Ready to fill a corner of your garden?