The late summer flowers of the purple beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma) are small, pinkish- lavender in color, and borne in clusters above the foliage on the plant's gracefully arching branches. While not spectacular in appearance, they give way in early fall to the striking purple fruits that give the plant its common name. In addition to offering an impressive display, the fruits persist after fall defoliation and provide food for birds. Native to China, Japan, and Korea, C. dichotoma grows best in full sun or partial shade in Zones 5-8. A mid-sized shrub that's easy to grow and generally free of serious pests or diseases, purple beautyberry displays best when planted in groups or masses.

Stop by the Visitor Center for assistance in locating examples of this plant in the Arboretum landscape. You may also pick up a free activity guide for kids of all ages highlighting August's Tree-of-the-Month, Koelreuteria paniculata (goldenrain tree).

Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth, and their beneficial and harmful interactions with plants can tell us much about the ecological balance of our surroundings. Register to join Sue Pfeiffer on Thursday, August 6 at 5:30pm for an overview of insect anatomy, their life cycles, and tips for identifying major insect families. As curatorial fellow at the Arboretum, Sue has helped collect insects to assist integrated pest management efforts and visiting entomologists. She will demonstrate various methods of attracting, capturing, and preserving insect specimens for study and display. In the process you will gain an appreciation for these creatures and their remarkable evolutionary success.

The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), which feeds on and kills a wide variety of trees, was positively identified last August in a small area of Worcester, Massachusetts. One year later, much has already been done to delineate the range of the infestation, remove infested trees, and to educate the public on recognizing and monitoring for this pest. Toward the latter goal, the ALB Outreach and Survey Project is looking for volunteers to receive training about ALB and other forest pests. Register for their "Train the Trainer" session on August 11 in Boston or August 13 in Springfield and get the tools you need to protect your neighborhood trees.

A Forest in Mind, an exhibition by Terry Boutelle opening August 1 in the Hunnewell Building, presents a vision of trees and forests shaped by memory, meditation, and imagination. Using mixed media and often incorporating natural objects such as leaves, twigs, and seeds, she moves beyond realism into psychological and emotional realms in her richly textured paintings. Join us on Saturday, August 1 at 1:00pm for for an opening reception and on Thursday, August 13 at 6:30pm for a conversation with the artist (Free, advance registration requested).

To complement the improved system of directional signs in the landscape, the Arboretum has redesigned its printed Map & Guide. With a new brochure for each season, the Map & Guide has information on way-finding, seasonal highlights, fast facts, major collections, and special destinations. Stop by the Visitor Center to pick one up when you embark on your next exploration.

Enjoy the urban outdoors! Free landscape tours are offered on every August weekend, as well as select Wednesday afternoons and a Friday evening walk on August 7. Explore the grounds with a trained Arboretum docent to learn more about the Arboretum and enjoy the landscape's summer highlights. On Saturday, August 29 at 1:30pm, join curator Michael Dosmann for a free introduction to the Arboretum's diverse collection of nut-bearing trees.

All images from the Arnold Arboretum Archives except Boston Architectural College image courtesy of BAC, ALB image courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and exhibition image courtesy of the artist.

Note: If you use Outlook 2007 as your email client, you might see some formatting irregularities in Enews, such as gaps of space between article headers and text. To correct this compatibility glitch, click the link at the top of this page, or select View in Browser from the Other Actions menu on your message toolbar.