Curious Blooms

A Tulip flower is blooming on the side of fallen log.

Silver Dollars bloom again this year. Silver Dollars are commonly found in Europe. Traditionally placed in wedding bouquets as good luck.

little blooms

Richard Fay planted the forest with his own hands...

Richard Sullivan Fay

History of Essex County Massachusetts: 

with Biographical Sketches, Volume 1 - Google Books

He commenced at once... "covering the hills with innumerable trees, many of which he planted with his own hands.  He imported larches, maples, firs, pines in large quantities, planted acorns constantly in his walks about the estate, and succeeded in converting a rough and somewhat unattractive landscape into a variegated forest, through which winds an avenue of great beauty, bordered by deciduous and evergreen trees distributed with great taste, and constituting a charming combination of variety and luxuriance of foliage"

Exotic Flora

Purple Silver Dollar flowers are blooming near Spring Pond.  This flora is typically found in Europe.  A smaller white flower is growing nearby.  Is this another remnant of Richard Sullivan Fay's exotic arboretum from the 1800's?  In European tradition, purple Silver Dollars were placed in wedding bouquets for good luck. 

Sakura? Flowering tree

Today, a few flowering trees decorated the scenes near picturesque pools in different locations, on the hill.  The flora appears to be Sakura, an Asian Cherry Tree Blossom commonly found in Japan, China and Korea... a sweet surprise in the wild woodland of Richard Sullivan Fay's exotic arboretum.  This ornamental tree blossoms for a few days in early Spring, and does not produce fruit.  

Old Postcard from the Fay Arboretum

"This divided-back postcard was printed in Germany for the Glenmere Co. of Lynn Mass. Although it has no postmark, it can be dated with confidence, between 1907, when the U.S. Postal Service first allowed divided-back postcard, and 1914, with the start of World War I. After the WWI began American postcards were printed either in England or in America.  By the time of this photo, Dudley Fay had sold out the estate to the Boston Interurban Realty Trust.  It documents that the citizens of Lynn, Salem and beyond were enjoying Mr Fay’s arboretum 100+ years ago, as the citizens and children of Lynn and Salem do today (or “did” if woods are developed)." ~ Tom O.  Thank you Tom for sharing.  

Curious, if the image (not the print), is a reprint of an earlier decade, in the late eighteen hundreds?  Here is a map in progress of the remaining Fay Arboretum:  www.springpondwoods.com/p/arboretum.html

Drawn using Vectorworks Designer/Architect/ Landmark/Renderworks, by yours truly.

Old photo of Fay Road in wintertime

c. early 1900's, Fay Road in wintertime, in the Fay Estate of Lynn

peace

Fall foliage colors

A scientist once credited the sight of colors in helping longevity... The wonder.
Maybe this is true, as colors are known to evoke certain emotions in places and retreats, helping the blood flow.


Green is peaceful, symbolizes nature, refreshing, relaxing & restful, feeling of warmth.
Sky blue and reflecting water is calm, tranquil, serene, and purifying.
Yellow captures the joy of sunshine and communicates happiness, energizing and uplifting.
Orange evokes enthusiasm and excitement.
Red is vibrant, rich and elegant, pumping the heart like no other hue.


Here are a few fall palette colors, from the trees of Spring Pond Woods. 

Images, a few weeks old...

peace 

Map of Fay Arboretum

              Mr. Fay's Arboretum was once a well known place, notable for being one of the earliest arboretums, predating Olmstead and for having trees being sighted here first in the country.  People enjoyed walking the estate, admiring the vast variety of native and exotic foliage.  Below is a map of the inventoried flora in the historic Fay Estate.   There is more area (blank areas) to further inventory, as this is only an initial study.  The love of nature and history of this hidden treasure is one of the biggest reasons why so many wish to preserve the entire area.   In comparing the species of flora with historic research, this drawing reveals the hidden gem we have here in Essex County, in Lynn, Peabody and Salem, MA.  I hope regional planning includes uniting these three cities to preserve this old paradise and beloved area.   Three cities are connected here by the recreational wooded areas around Spring Pond.  

The arboretum map will be updated on occasion, when a new inventory of flora is made.  

To view, click on map, and again to zoom in. Right-click to download. 

peace

A ready-made arboretum

        A tree map through the old Fay Estate, where one can wonder through old paradise and find beautiful rare flora from all parts of the world pertaining to history, is found here: www.springpondwoods.com/p/arboretum.html


      We have a ready-made arboretum here in Lynn, Salem and Peabody by Spring Pond. The trees are found readily in Spring Pond Woods on the old estate.  Richard Sullivan Fay, a historic land owner imported 200 acres of rare flora from all parts of the world, and many of these species are believed to of been seen here first in the country!   In days of old, the trees were labeled for those who strolled through the estate to admire the foliage.  We hope to revive this historic landscape and bring it back to its days of glory.

The flora is inventoried as follows:

• Jasmine from the Mediterranean 
• Bitter Night Shade, native to the Mediterranean in  Europe or Asia 
• Mock-orange, native to America, Asia or southeast Europe 
• Asiatic Day Flower, native to east or south Asia 
• Lemon mint, native to the Mediterranean in Europe 
• Bamboo, native to east Asia 
• Red Oak, unique species 
• Norway Spruce, native to Europe 
• Black Locus, native to southeastern United States 
• Tulip Tree, unidentified
• Austrian Pine, native to Europe 
• European Mountain Ash, native to the Mediterranean in Europe or Asia 
• Birch, unique species 
• Sasafras, native to North America and Asia 
• Mulberry, native to the subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Europe or Americas 
• Scotch Pine, native to Europe or Asia 
• Missletoe, native to Great Britain or Europe 
• Pussy Willow, unidentified to native country 
• Rhododendrum, native to southern Asia, southern Europe, northern Australia or southern Americas 
• Hyacinth, native to eastern Mediterranean or Asia 
• White Campion, native to Europe, Asia and Africa 
• Elm, native to Asia
• Aster, native to Europe and western Asia

A variety of trees from North America include:

• Mountain Laurel 
• Honey Locus 
• Atlantic White Cedar 
• American Beech 
• American White Birch 
• Larch Tamarack 
• Sugar Maple 
• Lady’s Slippers Orchids

Other unique flora and trees remain unidentifiable

Photo above:  Spring Pond Advocates taking an inventory of the trees.