Arnold Arboretum

David Parsons wandered the Arboretum today, no doubt stuffing his face in the lilacs.

Copyright David Parsons.

JCardinal18 posts a Lilac Sunday panorama. Bethypoo00 posts photos. Michelle McCormack was there, too. Rachel Irwin posts flower photos.

When the sun hits the Hancock just right at sunset, it changes color rather dramatically, making a trip up to Peters Hill in the Arboretum well worth the effort.

Lizdc has her camera handy.

The top of Peters Hill in the Arboretum.

Mark recounts the life of this fabled mockingbird, who lived in the Arboretum between at least 1914 and 1920:

... [T]his notable bird was heard by his faithful observers to imitate 39 bird songs, 50 bird calls, and the calls of both frog and cricket, for a total of 91 sounds imitated. ...

Amy Joyce went to the Arboretum for the annual Lilac Sunday - the 100th one - and took a ton of photos (like the one above).

Maria Varmazis enjoyed it, too.

Tanyonghau took photos, as well.

Soy Linduh took a cool black and white photo.

More by Paul English.

Leslee included some non-lilacs in her set.

Quite the intimate little party, from the looks of the remains.

Steve Garfield posts a slideshow of snow-powdered trees.

A couple of dogs playing at the Arboretum today.

Hawk about to dine on a squirrel at the Arboretum.

Barred owl in the Arboretum.

One advantage of our extended fall has been the dramatic bursts of color that only came out over the last week or so, instead of way back in October. Mike Ball goes for a walk through the Arnold Arboretum and describes and photographs some of the more interesting flora there:

... The other showoff is the Japanese beautyberry (callicarpa japonica). The bush at the top of Peters Hill is a sudden delight. Walk the path to the top and just to the right of the steps going up to the benches (with the nifty Boston skyline views) is a vivid lavender display on drab stalks. ...

David Ertischek was riding his bike through the Arboretum when he spotted a guy and two girls using buckets and nets to move fish from the drying up little ponds by the roses to a larger pond with more water.

Evan and Amanda walk nine miles, from Franklin Park to the Common. His account is complete with photos.

Boston Police report using a decoy car to help arrest two people on motor-vehicle B&E charges in an Arboretum parking area (Bussey and Walter streets) that has seen several break-ins lately.

At 5:15pm, officers observed two suspects walking up Bussey Street looking into parked vehicles. The two suspects continued to walk straight and then turned around. The first suspect crossed the street and went directly to the decoy vehicle. The suspect open the front passenger side door and removed the items from the front seat.

Amanda Labonville, 27, and Osvaldo Class, 36, arrested.

Also yesterday, police arrested Tommie Motley, 43, of Mattapan, on charges he stabbed a man on Callender Street around 9:20 p.m. The victim was taken to Brigham and Women's; expected to live.

David Prior learns that when you find a still working laptop at the Arboretum, and you do your civic duty and find the nearest police station and turn it in, the cops will basically tell you they have more important things to deal with.

Jennifer Garrett takes us on a stroll around the Ahbs.

Arnold Arboretum photos on Flickr.

Peters Hill is the highest point in the Arnold Arboretum - with a summit that offers great views of the surrounding city, from downtown and the Back Bay to Jamaica Plain and Roxbury. Cognoscenti (of which I was not one until yesterday) know that it's a lot easier to get to the top by taking the "back" entrance off Mendum Street in Roslindale rather than the better known entrances along Centre Street and the Arborway in Jamaica Plain. The Mendum Street gate is where people leave hats and mittens they've found on the Arboretum grounds, such as the hat above (the spikes of the gate are actually black - unless you use a camera flash).

One view from the top of the hill: Read more