American asters (
Symphyotrichum spp.) are now in riotous bloom all along sidewalks and roadsides, if you but look low below the trees. Goldenrods (
Solidago spp.), in contrast, have pretty much faded by now. This particular clump of asters is to be found in the Sycamores apartment complex.
A hedge of holly (
Ilex spp.) on the west side of Old Reston Avenue, south of its intersection with Stratford Park Place, right at the bus stop for the RIBS 2 bus.
A closer look reveals that this plant bears red berries, mostly in clumps in the leaf axils. Based on the relatively large number of spiny teeth on the leaves, and the rather pointed leaf tip, I believe this may be a specimen of Foster's holly (
Ilex x attenuata), an ornamental hybrid. Compare the
Virginia Tech fact sheet.
This holly specimen is located along the pathway connecting the Charter Oak apartment complex with the Charter Oak townhomes to the south. These leaves are larger, thicker, darker, and less spiny; also note that the fruit have not yet matured. I believe this may be a cultivar of Chinese holly (
Ilex cornuta); compare the
Virginia Tech fact sheet.
A winged burningbush (
Euonymus alatus) at the northwestern corner of the intersection of Old Reston Avenue with the W&OD bike path. It is called "burningbush" because it turns a beautiful fire-red in the fall. Despite its beauty (and consequent wide horticultural use), this is a very invasive exotic that is on Reston's list of
8 forbidden species.
And yes, this one also has a red fruit, although this is not a berry or drupe, but rather an aril that is revealed when the husk around it splits open (remnants of the husk are still attached to this fruit). Compare the
Virginia Tech fact sheet. The winged burningbush can be distinguished from native burningbushes by the distinctive wings of cork on its stems; unfortunately, I did not manage to get a good picture of the wings.
At the southwestern corner of the same intersection is this solitary specimen of common evening primrose (
Oenothera biennis), with several faded goldenrods and lots of grape leaves behind it. As suggested by its name, this was flowering close to sunset. Compare this
description from Illinois.
Sycamores (
Platanus spp.) are quite prominent in this section of Reston. This specimen, with its characteristically mottled bark, is on the east side of Old Reston Avenue just north of the intersection with American Dream Way.
Unfortunately, it appears that the local sycamores are quite susceptible to disease. The leaves are frequently brown, splotched, raggedy, full of holes, or otherwise stressed-looking.
Based on the leaf shape, with its rather shallow lobes and large number of teeth, and the singly-hanging fruit as seen in this image, I believe the sycamores here are American sycamores (
Platanus occidentalis). Compare the
Virginia Tech fact sheet.
Extending along the driveway/gravel path north of the former Sallie Mae property along the southern edge of the Ivy Oak townhomes, and reaching all the way from Old Reston Avenue to the pocket park on North Shore Drive, is this gorgeous row of large, mature sycamores. Further east, flanking the western portion of Links Drive north of North Shore Drive, there is another double row of mature sycamores. This
map of Reston from 1951 shows this trajectory to have coincided with a road leading from the old turn-of-the-century settlement of Sunset Hills to some outlying farm buildings. It is likely that that old road was lined with sycamores, and thus these trees are a remaining witness to the way Reston was before suburban development hit with a vengeance in the 1960s.
