Another Busy Day!

I took the photo above this morning but it was inspired by the same shot Marsha Mood took very recently and caught the rainbow in the fountain as well.  I shamelessly replicated her shot and was glad I did so (thanks Marsha!).  It was a cool start to the day and some of our tropicals in the yard didn’t look very happy this morning.  The weather feels like mid April but I hope we’ll be warming up again soon.  The grounds staff put row covers over our most tender annuals as a protective blanket against another very cold evening.  We all had a busy day but mine went quickly from laying out plants to desk work to a presentation for the Loves Park (IL) Rotary Club then back for two meetings.  The day was both long but went quickly too!

I wasn’t out in the gardens very long but captured the color seen below.  The grounds staff of Larry, Big John, Janice, Cindy and Cheryl all kept busy with a wide range of gardening tasks which included weeding, watering, mowing, etc.  Everyone did a great job.  Our volunteers included Eva and Kathy (second photo from the bottom) who headed down in to the sunken garden for more weeding.  Kay was in to tidy up her area and Roy and Mary were in to install 100+ annuals in the shade garden this morning.  Dr. Gredler and Bill O. both mowed and Doc also helped with some painting.  Vern was in for some carpentry and we also saw Dick H., Urban (preparing the observation pier for repainting), Maury and many others today.  Our Horticulture Therapy Committee (Mary W., Elaine, Darcie, Ellie, Art, Janice, Cindy, Mary N. and Kris K) met for an afternoon meeting as well.  I’ve dozed a couple times while typing this so I’ll hang it up but more fun and photos tomorrow!

‘Midnight Rose’ coral bells (Heuchera)
Dolce ‘Black Currant’ coral bells (Heuchera)
the rare oakleaf mountainash (Sorbus hybrida ‘Oakleaf’)
‘Pleniflora’ Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica) – woody shrub
tricolor European beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseo-Marginata’)
silver linden (Tilia tomentosa ‘Sterling’) from below
‘Torchlight’ hosta (Hosta) with some backlighting
‘Honey Rose’ foamy bells (xHeucherella)
Spring growth on ‘Redstone Falls’ foamy bells (xHeucherella)
‘Bowles Golden’ sedge (Carex elata)

 

‘Toba’ hawthorn (Crataegus x mordenensis)