Another Dandy of a Day

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Visibility this morning was minimal with some heavy fog in the area.  Once the fog lifted in mid-morning and the sun arrived, it was another lovely day in the upper 60 degrees F.  This weather, while of concern for being so mild, has been a blessing for late season gardening efforts and the continued progress of getting our Holiday Light Show (HLS) up and ready to go.  Most Thursday blogs include phrases like “epic volunteer turnout” or something like that and today was no exception.  We had quite a few grounds staff on hand and the volunteer turnout was excellent.  We all continue to enjoy the Autumn garden (Japanese garden above) and the details in the late season garden are amazing.  Our Fall Symposium is looming this Saturday and it looks like we’ll have close to 150 attendees which is, I believe, a record for this event.

Cindy continued with her epic luminary project as she continues to place and insert light strands in 2,000 luminaries that line almost the entire route of the HLS.  Larry O. had a couple projects but his emphasis was on getting up lights in the reception garden (see below).  We call this set-up the Olsen Pavilion and we haven’t had this out in the HLS for about four years.  You’ll have to come and experience the Olsen Pavilion and the magic of the entire HLS.  Big John put out a lot of displays, obelisks and other HLS elements today and worked with Bobby K. on getting our second giant obelisk (20′) to the sunken garden.  Larry H. was again a “decorating demon” as he continues to go full speed with getting lights out for the show.  I spent the day running cords and this task will define most of my existence over the coming weeks.  It was another very productive day though!

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late season look for ‘Dewey Blue’ dune grass (Panicum amarum, 60″)

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Blue Sunrisegeranium (Geranium hybrida ‘Blogold’) – perennial

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Fall Fiesta® sugar maple (Acer saccharum ‘Bailsta’) – woody tree

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fall color on ‘Copper Ridges’ doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum f. tometosum) – woody shrub

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fall color on bloody cranesbill geranium (Geranium sanguineum) – perennial

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peak fall color on this gingko (Ginkgo biloba) – woody tree

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the moss garden (above) is looking vivid this time of year

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Larry (above) getting the Olsen Pavilion ready in the fog!

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Above is Randy M. who is repairing some of the rebar displays that he made for the HLS many years ago with his dad.  Randy was one of many volunteers on hand today.  Our volunteers included Randy, Kathy, Eva, Shirley H., Marilyn, Suzie, Dave E., Steve S., Vicki, Steve J., Alan, Bob K., Maury, Dr. Gredler, Rollie, Dave, Jim, Vern, Ron Y., Dick H., Bob D., Bev D.,Gary and we also saw Becky, our new Executive Director.  The tasks were varied but all well done by our excellent volunteers!

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Suzie and Shirley H. (driver)

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fall color on ‘Autumn Moon’ fullmoon maple (Acer shirasawanum) – woody tree

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Golden Raindrops™ crabapple (Malus transitoria ‘Schmidtcutleaf’) – woody tree

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fall color on Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum) – woody tree

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the North Point garden looked awesome in the fog this morning

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fruits of ‘Red Peacock’ crabapple (Malus hybrida) – woody tree

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fall color on vernal witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis, unknown variety) – woody shrub

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fall color and flowers on witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) – woody shrub

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cool view from underneath an umbrella-leaf magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) – woody tree