April Showers…

Today started with some drizzle that had been spotty over the evening hours.  The timing was perfect though as it stopped raining early and we were able to get outside and enjoy a warm Spring day with some sporadic sunshine later in the afternoon.  Above is a photo I took this morning in the main parking lot.  Santa’s House and Elf Workshop are being relocated for the warmer portion of the year but will be rolled back to this exact location for unloading and placement in only 172 days…..Thanks to Paulson-Kimball Construction (Garrett) for loading this up for us Friday.  The gardens were beautiful today with lots more poking up every day (see further below).  Terry and Big John did a nice job moving our tropicals out of the Horticulture Center in to the hoop house. The guys also bounced between other projects including filling more containers.  Cindy did a nice job repotting some of our Elephant Ear Collection candidates.  I think we have 20 or so varieties here with 60 or so others to follow soon.  Cindy also worked her tidying kung fu in multiple locations.  I continue to focus on special events preparations, ordering, signage, etc.

My camera didn’t capture all the wonderful volunteer activity out there today but it was certainly a productive day.  Above are Ron R. (left) and Lloyd loading up compost which was being spread in multiple areas.  Bob C. (directly below) did a nice job spreading mulch on the pathways that will go through the “Alphabet Jungle Garden” this year.  The second photo down shows Eva (left) and Kathy in the gazebo garden where they did an excellent job collecting leaf debris from last year.  The ladies do a very thorough job.  Maury and Dick H. hauled the terrace furniture from storage and put it in place.  The guys then further secured the structures on the trailer and hauled it back.  Dave, Jim, Vern and Bob K. continued on their carpentry projects and Pat M. (third photo down) worked on the last “Tower of Power” as it will be transitioned from its use in the Holiday Lights Show to a new location in the Jungle Garden.  Jenny M. and Dr. Gredler worked on some significant painting.  Gary was in for more label production and data entry. Bob K. spread compost this afternoon and Jumbo Jim and four RECAPPERS did a dynamite job digging out some shrubs that needed to be removed.  We also saw Jim S., Carol S., Rollie, Dr. Yahr, Kay, Jason O. and many others….  Enjoy the Spring beauty further below.

 hellebores (Helleborus sp.) are starting to really bloom strongly – here seen in the gazebo garden (above and below)

 bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
 glory-in-the-snow (Chionodoxa forbesii ‘Pink Giant’)
 hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) are starting to bloom and offer fragrance!
 Crimson Fans Mukdenia (Mukdenia rossii ‘Karasuba’) emerging and getting ready to bloom
 Corneliancherry dogwoods (Cornus mas) are starting to bloom
 ‘Katharine Hodgkin’ reticulated iris (Iris reticulata) with foliage of Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
 pink grape hyacinth (Muscari ‘Pink Sunrise’)
 ‘Black Diamond’ hellebore (Helleborus sp.)
Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)