An Evening at Olbrich

Last night I did a presentation up at Olbrich Botanical Gardens (Madison, WI) and I’m glad I took my camera.  I had a brief 30 minutes out in the gardens but was able to catch the early evening lighting and saw lots of interesting things out in the gardens.  Above is the ‘Harmony’ reticulated iris (Iris reticulata) starting to bloom.  There was plenty to see and I look forward to my 4-5 additional visits to Olbrich throughout the year to catch the transitioning seasons and color.  My talk on “Incorporating Fragrance in to the Garden” seemed well received.

I had another partial day today but there was plenty of activity out in the gardens.  Larry H., Larry O., Bobby K. and I represented the grounds staff with plenty of action all around.  Dick H. was in to cut down a tree with Larry O. while Bobby K. and Larry H. helped with some trenching work to install some new electrical service.  Kathy P. and Kay were in for gardening work as was Dr. Gredler.  Urban came in for more pruning and Dennis continues his improvements on the slopes above the gazebo garden and North path.  We also saw Becky and many others today.

CHINA SNOW™ Peking lilac (Syringa pekinensis ‘Morton’) – woody tree

yellow-stemmed dogwoods (Cornus sp.) – woody shrubs

winter color of ‘Angelina’ stonecrop (Sedum rupestre) – perennial

‘Arnold Promise’ witchhazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) – woody shrub

‘Autumn Embers’ vernal witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis) – woody shrub

North Pole® arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis ‘Art Boe’) – woody tree

‘Swizzle Stick’ willow (Salix alba) – woody shrub/tree

coralbark willow (Salix alba subsp. vitellina ‘Britzensis’) – woody shrub

patch of prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) – perennial

a “pollinator hotel”

snowdrops (Galanthus sp.)

nice grove of Renaissance Reflection® paper birches (Betula papyrifera ‘Renci’) – woody trees

the Thai Pavilion

CHINA SNOW™ Peking lilac (Syringa pekinensis ‘Morton’) – woody tree

White Satin™ birch (Betula utilis ‘Madison’) – woody tree

large sycamore (or maybe a London planetree….they look a lot alike)