Another Nice Day

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Above is Michael Jesiolowski from the Chicago Botanic Garden.  Michael gave an inspirational talk last night on the “Handsome Harvest” which featured many plants that provide edibility (and ornamentality!).  We had a nice turnout and appreciate Michael making the trip and also taking a swim in the Giant Aquarium!

We had another nice sunny day with temperatures around 80 degrees F.  We hope the chance of rain tonight happens as that will help with this holiday weekend.  We had a strong turnout of volunteers and our grounds staff kept very busy throughout the day.  Cindy did some watering and focused her efforts in the Hummingbird Haven theme in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children’s Garden.  This display is amazing and should peak in the next two weeks or so.  Big John ran irrigation, moved sprinklers around, watered containers and worked on a wide range of other projects like shearing and edging.  Larry did a great job improving the appearance of the entire East entrance gate with weeding and re-mulching.  It looks the best it has in a very long time.  Trevor and Nolan spent most of the day cleaning up the far end of the pond near the gazebo (see photo below) and were actually retrieving and re-setting boulders that had been rolled in to the pond from the path edges.  I placed plants and circulated to check on various projects.  With our Home Garden Tour about two weeks away (July 16th, get your tickets now for $10!), my focus will turn towards that event shortly.

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‘Hummelo’ wood betony (Stachys officinalis) – perennial

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‘Apple Blossom’ snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) – annual

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prickly poppy (Argemone albiflora) – annual

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‘Zebrina’ mallow (Malva sylvestris) – marginally hardy

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Nolan (foreground) and Trevor cleaning the pond (yucky job but worth the effort)

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We had some great help from volunteers today both out in the gardens and at the Horticulture Center.  Above is Donna who spent almost six hours at the gardens today planting and weeding near the gazebo.  Suzie and Vera worked with her earlier in that same location.  Alan continued weeding in the reception garden and was joined by Kathy after she finished in the sunken garden.  Eva and Brian did a lot of planting in the sunken garden and Janet M. came in later for weeding.  Magda weeded in her area and Shirley H. did a great job weeding in front of the Parker Education Center.  Terri, Linda and John did some tidying near the children’s garden including the deadheading of hundreds of lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina).  Karen M. and Cheryl P. were seen tidying up in the Japanese garden.  Bob C. and Ron R. did nice job tidying up along a low fence near the hosta hollow and moved on to some sweeping duties.  Vern, Dave and Jim had carpentry projects and Steve did some odd jobs which including plumbing and cart assembly!  Maury and Gary were around too and Dick P. finished some work on a new base for a plaque.  We had a great turnout (including those I likely omitted…)!

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Vera (above)

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Dave, Jim and Vern (left to right)

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Bob C. (left) and Ron R.

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Magda weeding (above)

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Shadow King® ‘Cherry Mint’ rex begonia (Begonia) – annual

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‘Blazin’ Lime’ bloodleaf (Iresine hybrida) – annual

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‘Blazin’ Rose’ bloodleaf (Iresine hybrida) – annual