At the Arboretum, an unquiet winter
Don’t let the smooth blanket of snow fool you. Don’t be deceived by the footpaths free of summertime crowds or the trees patiently waiting for spring. Winter at the Arnold Arboretum is a busy time. For humans, it’s a time for catching up outdoors and forging ahead inside. It’s a time when the frozen ground is a blessing, when heavy machinery — a bucket truck to reach high branches, say — can cover territory that is off-limits in the summer. Meanwhile, horticulture crews have time to focus on oft-neglected patches of natural woodland, targeting invasive species. Indoors, researchers peer into microscopes and visit greenhouses, examining and cataloging collections from other seasons. Though spring prep work is typically completed in the autumn, planning for the season is ongoing, as is the development of programs for high school and college interns interested in horticulture. Work aside, winter at the Arboretum is a time of beauty,...