Secrest Crabapples Reaching Peak Bloom

WOOSTER, Ohio - The crabapple blossoms in the Secrest Arboretum in Wooster are now blooming and favorable weather conditions will make for ideal viewing through the middle of next week. Arboretum curator Ken Cochran said the trees are expected to be at peak bloom between now and May 2. The blooms are peaking early this year due to warm weather early in the spring season. The arboretum - part of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center - is home to more than 600 crabapple trees of more than 200 different types. It's one of the largest crabapple collections in the country, according to Cochran. OARDC is at 1680 Madison Ave., just south of U.S. 30. Come in the main campus entrance, turn left on Payne Drive, then turn right on Williams Road. Follow Williams into the arboretum. Williams turns into Green Drive at a sharp right curve; most of the crabapples are on these two roads. Admission to the campus and arboretum is free and open to the public. There are parking areas and walking paths. For more information, call the arboretum office at (330) 263-3761.