I was occasioned the other day to wander through the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, and more specifically in the JP (Jamaica Plain) and Roslindale neighborhoods of Boston.  If you are not familiar with the term, arboretum is Latin for big ass wooden things with leaves.

This place is simply stunning!  Think of it as a museum of trees and plants.  I guess technically trees are perennial plants – just with long trunks.  Mind you, I spent several hours and walked a little bit over 6 miles during this wandering.  I took a bunch of photos but truly they do no justice to the beauty of this cocoon of quiet.

Even though located in Boston, this almost 300-acre preserve completely removes one from the hustle and bustle of city life, and yet is a 10-minute drive to Fenway Park.  Well, nothing in Boston is a 10-minute drive, but you get my point.

In another time in my life, I must have driven past this place literally hundreds of times and yet this was the first time I entered the grounds.  What an omission!  Don’t we all tend to drive by places of interest but then say to ourselves – maybe later.  And walking is the easiest way to stop and pause and admire the things around us.

Trust me – my ignorance prevents me from appreciating the variety of trees and plants, and the effort spent to preserve and protect this wonderland.  There are oaks, pines, bonsai, fir trees, redwoods, tulip trees – I mean the variety of trees is just amazing.

And plants and ferns and a host of amazing other plant-life – just candy for the eyes and nose!  The Stewartia (camellia) were blooming, which I guess if you live in the southeast is just Tuesday but if you live in the northeast is kind of cool to see.

I would highly recommend a visit to the Arnold Arboretum if you live in or are visiting the Boston area, but if not – just go to somewhere near you, a garden, a museum, an historical site, that you’ve driven past but haven’t taken the time to visit.  I’m willing to bet you’ll be amazed.