Blog | LSU Hilltop Arboretum

Blog Posts

 

barred owl in treeThese are just a few of the birds that visitors to the LSU Hilltop Arboretum often spot when walking the trails and enjoying the meadow. Hilltop board member and birder, Harriett Pooler, has been observing Hilltop’s feathered friends for some time now and she’s identified at least 75 different species. Some of these visitors pass through on a migratory route, while others happily call Hilltop home. Read the full "White-eyed Vireo. Great Crested Flycatcher. Summer Tanger" blog.

Bob Dillemuth by magnolia treeTouring Hilltop with board member Bob Dillemuth is like going back in time to when Mr. Smith still occupied the little house overlooking Highland Road. Dillemuth’s father was a friend of Mr. Smith, and Dillemuth has fond memories of spending time at Hilltop as a teen. He describes Mr. Smith as a man of “integrity, honesty and humanitarianism.” Dillemuth says Mr. Smith was “smart, plain-spoken and no-nonsense. He was not a flashy person, but he left his mark on the community.” Read the full "History and Horticulture" blog.

soldier beetle on flowerHave you ever thought of the flowers in your yard as the equivalent of McDonalds’ golden arches? Maybe you should. USDA Research Entomologist Dr. Frank Rinkevich says, “flowers are neon signs telling insects to come eat.” If you’ve visited LSU Hilltop Arboretum recently then you know that there are plenty of neon signs flashing as the wildflower meadow bursts with blooms. Read the full "Insects" blog.

Beebalm bloomThe LSU Hilltop Arboretum’s wildflower meadow will soon be on full display with its annual May bloom. Like a school classroom, this 3.7-acre meadow has much to teach us as we take in the sights and sounds of so many blooms in one location. Someone who is especially passionate about the meadow is LSU graduate intern Dan Cooke. Cooke is happy to discuss the meadow that he and his classmates helped establish. “My passion is the plants and the growing of the plants,” he says while pointing out the different species as they start emerging. Read the full "Lessons Learned in a Wildflower Meadow" blog.

bloom from red buckeye treeLouisiana is home to an array of versatile, forgiving native plants that make great, low maintenance additions to the landscape. With so many from which to choose, it is hard to know where to start. LSU Hilltop Arboretum volunteer Debbie Corbo offers tips on a few of her favorites. Read the full "Debbie Corbo Talks About Her Favorite Plants" blog.

hanging wooden swingThe porch swing swaying behind the LSU Hilltop Arboretum is the perfect backdrop for an afternoon chat, and Debbie Corbo is the ideal companion if you're curious about plants. Read the full "Why Natives?" blog.