Again this year the Arboretum staff has given FOTA the inside scoop on the best spring bulb varieties for our area. Many of these tried-and-true varieties will be on display in the Gardens in the next few months, and bulbs will be available for purchase online soon.

A complete schedule of classes, wildflower tours, bird walks and kids' activities is available online at opabg.org. 

The Friends of the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens will have a booth at the Johnson County Lawn & Garden Show on February 25, 26 and 27. Stop by and say "hi" to the dedicated group of volunteers who will be staffing the booth.

Check out an interesting new blog about common nature stuff at natureusa.blogspot.com.

The author, Dan Johnson, is a FOTA volunteer. He is currently serving on the bird committee and gives the "Native Snakes of Kansas" presentation during our annual Arts for Kids event. Dan says, "If I don't make you laugh, say 'I didn't know that,' or perhaps gross you out, I'm not doing my job!"

Here are a few things you might look for this spring as you walk beyond the gardens and down the trails into the Arboretum. Watch the April calendar of events for guided wildflower tour opportunities. 

Hazelnut. Corylus americana. We have several groups of Hazelnuts growing at the OP Arboretum forming small colonies over the years. They are deciduous with redbud shaped leaves but the leaves are rougher in texture and a medium green in color. Several stems from the ground form a thin open shrub with 1" to 2" long catkins in winter and spring and these produce the edible Hazelnuts that are enjoyed by many. The Hazelnuts we buy in the stores are an introduced orchard variety and are grown in groves in the Pacific NW. Our native Hazelnut is also related to the Harry Lauder's Walking Stick which is a Hazelnut with contorted branches from Europe.

Wild Blue Phlox. Blue Wood Phlox. Wild Sweet William. The reason Phlox divaricata ssp. laphamii has so many common names is that this Phlox is so noticeable. Growing to about 10" tall with spreading leaves and many beautiful flowers on top of the clusters in early spring. We also have the common Wild Blue Phlox, Phlox divaricata growing at the Arboretum and frequently they are side by side and they will cross pollinate and produce interesting colors as natural hybrids. Mike Haddock of Kansas State University has a nice picture and information of this wlld phlox on the www.kswildflower.org web site.

Wild Geraniums. Geranium maculatum. Thousands of this wonderful native perennial are growing naturally in the dappled shade just south of Wolf Creek and below the bluffs scattered beneath Pawpaw trees and giant native shade trees. Light pink to lavender flowers in spring time are 1 1/2" wide and are scattered on top of the colorful geranium type foliage. Stunning autumn leaf colors of green, orange, copper and reds cover the clumps of foliage in mid to late September through October and sometimes into early November. These can be grown from seed and divisions and we usually offer some of these at the FOTA spring plant sales.