Autumn in the Grove

MLK bench art by Michaela Gibbons of Jacksonville

At MOSI Outside, Autumn is a lovely season.

Our deciduous trees: sycamore, maple, persimmon, red bud, ginkgo, winged elm and plum have begun to drop a carpet of leaves over the grove. These fallen leaves of all sizes help to form the bed of mulch for next year.

Our herbs and vegetables in their raised beds take off in the more gentle temperatures and produce with abundance. Herbs from our gardens will head inside to the Everything's Fresh cafe inside MOSI and will become part of meals for guests and staff.

Over the next months, we gardeners rejoice that weeds, when pulled, do not seem to return within hours. The riot of summer can be pruned and tamed, at least for a while.

The visiting and resident birds of winter seek out the berries of Wild Coffee, Beautyberry, Holly and Duranta, spending the coming months devouring the bounty of the gardens so that it all can grow again next season. Learn more about the berries and fruits of our gardens.

The birds seem to be everywhere in the grove. Here are just some of the birds that you can catch glimpses of here at MOSI.

The temperature is reasonable, the air is fresh, winter wildflowers still bloom. Step outside with us at MOSI Outside and enjoy Autumn.