Witch Hazels In Full Bloom At Morris Arboretum
By Phran Novelli
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What's blooming this time of year? Not a lot, but witch hazels are among the few shrubs who do flower in winter.
Witch hazels' threadlike flowers are distinctive for their bright colors - ranging from golden yellow and orange to pink and red on otherwise bare branches - and their sweet spicy scent that fills the chilly air.
The Morris Arboretum has an extensive collection of over 70 varieties and you can use their scavenger hunt map to discover them all. Or, on the second Saturday of these winter months, join a guided tour through their gardens that leads you directly to the dozen or so witch hazels in bloom at any given time.
Tours start from the Widener Visitor Center at 1pm and are free to members or with your regular admission to the Arboretum. Link to details and directions via UPenn.edu.
There's a tour on Saturday February 14th in case you want to wander among the winter blooms with your sweetheart - or, if you miss that, there's another coming up on Saturday March 14th.