These Delights Await You at Cylburn Arboretum

Featured Garden

The Nathans Garden In Memory of Daniel Nathans, M.D.

Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides

Showcasing beloved features of Cylburn, including the incredible Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, and the gazebo, the Nathans Garden is a treat to visit any time of year. The Hydrangea paniculata, or Panicle Hydrangea is especially beautiful in early September, but this garden offers something in every season. This garden was created in memory of Daniel Nathans, M.D., a past President of Johns Hopkins University and Nobel Prize recipient in medicine in 1978. Learn more about Dr. Nathans’ Nobel Prize award, and hear the story of his research and work in his own words https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1978/nathans/biographical/. His wife, CAF member Joanne Nathans, continues to help us tend this garden weekly, and we count ourselves as fortunate indeed to have her as a friend. This garden is located near the circle drive, opposite the Cylburn Mansion.

Trees of the Arboretum

Black Walnut Tree, Juglans nigra

Mind your heads! Autumn is the time of year when the fruit of this North American native tree ripens and falls. Although often considered a “messy” tree in the landscape, it’s highly valued for both its beautiful hardwood and its edible nuts. If not carried off by squirrels, the lemon scented husks will turn dark brown and break down over time, staining hardscape or paving if left too long. The flower buds, nut hulls, and roots of this tree also contain a toxin that can adversely affect other plants. There are several Black Walnut trees on our grounds; the tree pictured stands on the circle road in front of the Cylburn Mansion. The nuts are delicious. To enjoy, let the husk to fully ripen and fall off, allow the nut shell to dry and harden, and then crack them open.

Flowers in the Gardens

Dahlia sp.

The Dahlia Display Garden

These profusive bloomers with their dazzling variety of flower forms are a true delight of the late summer/ early fall season. They are best grown in an area with good drainage and sun, with enough space between plants for good air circulation and growth. Staking is key to healthy flowers, with proper protection from pests, and extra attention to watering on dry summer days. Many hours of hard work by our members who generously volunteer their time and knowledge make this garden possible. We hope you will visit this collection often this fall, to catch sight of all the beautiful blooms as they appear throughout the season. You will find this garden in its new location at the top of the steps through the stone wall across from the Carriage House.