The spring season is beginning to show its colors at Nichols Arboretum.
Susan Letts, the education and volunteer coordinator for the arboretum, said there are many woody plants and wildflowers blooming and about to bloom in the Arb.
This month there have been hints of the arrival of silver maple, fetterbush, snowdrops and the skunk cabbage, just to name a few.
Many University students and Ann Arbor residents frequently visit the Arb to enjoy the scenery.
University alum Guerin Wilkinson, who edits Treeline, a newsletter to Friends of the Nichols Arboretum, said he likes the Arb because of the "peacefulness and the mature landscaping."
Wilkinson said one of his favorite things about the Arb are the Cornelian cherry trees at the entrance. "These are some of the first things to bloom," he said.
The Arb is a good place to go to get away from studying for awhile, said some University students who frequent the natural setting.
LSA sophomore Oriana Vigliotti said the Arb "is a really great place to go relax and unwind. It is very peaceful and quiet."
Some students said they like to do homework and read in the Arb, but others enjoy visiting and taking in the weather.
SNRE junior Josh Voice said he likes to go to the Arb because it is a peaceful place and the trees are beautiful. "This is a unique place to go in Ann Arbor because there are not very many parks and forest areas on campus," Voice said.
Mike Spencer, an LSA sophomore and jogger, said a trip through the Arb helps his state of mind.
"I like to go to the Arb and jog because it helps settle my mind," Spencer said.
Aside from a nice place for students to forget about school and to do many different activities, the Arb has many upcoming spring-focused events.
Letts said any interested visitors should come and enjoy the Arb, as long as they follow the rules to protect the plants and trees. The Arb will continue to blossom for months to come.
A three-year study conducted by University researchers at the arboretum helped determine the average flowering dates of many forms of vegetation, including flowering plants, trees and woody plants.
In April, the pussy willow, star magnolia, blue violet, crocus and the daffodil will begin to bloom.
In May, the Arb will be home to the wild plum, crab apple, lilac, serviceberry and the redbud. These are only a few of the plants and vegetation that will join the scores of trees in the Arb this spring.
JOSH BIGGS/Daily
Tim O'Boyle plays guitar in the Arb yesterday. Many students took advantage of the first day of spring to enjoy outside activities.