A Warm Week

It was amazing to see how much growth has occurred out in the gardens since last Friday.  With a warm weekend and some rain, plants are really exploding out in the gardens with lots of bulbs at peak and many of our earliest woody plants in bloom.  The earliest of perennials are also showing some flowers as well.  With a relatively warm week on tap, the “spring progession” should be substantial.  It’s a great time of year to view the garden which also has the benefit of not featuring too many of the lurking weeds that will also emerge quickly over the coming weeks.  We continue to spread lots of compost and mulch throughout the gardens in advance of the heaviest of growth which should occur in the coming month or so.  Daffodils (Narcissus) like the variety ‘Jetfire’ seen above are at peak throughout the gardens and are certainly a favorite of visitors.  We had a VERY busy day at the gardens despite some early rain and a thunderstorm later in the afternoon.

 

The entire grounds staff was there today with Big John, Cindy, Janice, Bobby K., Larry H. and Larry O. all in action.  The gang was working on a wide range of time sensitive projects to include composting, mulching, installing containers, filling containers with custom soil mix, special event preparation, etc.  I was out in the gardens for a bit but administrative duties continue to keep piling up.  We wish the best to Pam G., our education coordinator, who had her last day today.  Thankfully her organizational skills and dedication to detail should allow us to continue to uphold the importance of education at the gardens until a replacement is recruited.  With education being our primary mission, continuation of our programming momentum will be a priority I’m sure.

‘Leonard Messel’ magnolia (Magnolia x loebneri) – woody tree

‘Banana Boat’ Japanese sedge (Carex siderosticha) emerging – perennial

‘Centennial Blush’ star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) – woody tree

our first tulips (Tulipa) are blooming! – unknown variety above

‘Barton’s Pink’ pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) – perennial

early flowers of plantain-leaf sedge (Carex plantaginea) – perennial

‘Dutchman’s Breeches’ (Dicentra cucullaria) are just starting to bloom – perennial

bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is just starting to bloom too! – perennial

Kristen (above) was one of dozens of volunteers we saw today working on a wide range of tasks.  As the hour is getting long, I wont get in to specifics of the myriad tasks but our excellent volunteers out in the gardens and working at the Horticulture Center included Kristen, Jim H., four RECAPPERS, Steve E., Kay, Terri, Bob C., Bob K., Dennis J., Dick H., Ron R., Alan M., Marsha M., Marv B., Bill O., Vern, Jim, Steve J., Maury, Gary, Kathy P., Eva, Barb, Dr. Gredler and many more.  We also saw Urban, Rose, Rollie, Maryam, Pam, Mark S. and others.  It was a super day!

Kathy P. (left) and Eva

Bob C. (left) and Bob K.

Alan M. (left) and Ron R. putting together Spring Plant Sale tables

the octopus (painted by Lucy M.) and swordfish will be out in the Giant Aquarium soon helping share the book Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae