Aquarium Progress

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Today felt like early October with a high temperature under 70 degrees F.  It was chilly!  The cooler weather will be missed by the end of the week when temperatures reach 90 degrees F by Friday.  We had a couple of camera crews at the garden from Wisconsin Public Television (Milwaukee) and NBC15 (Madison).  We also saw plenty of visitors on this cool day and had productive staff and volunteers.  Nice shot above of foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) in the sunken garden with goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus) in the distance.

 

Big John ran irrigation, rototilled, watered and bounced between different projects including work on the Giant Aquarium.  Cindy weeded and watered with a strong focus near the Hummingbird Haven in the Nancy Yahr Memorial Children’s Garden.  Trevor and Nolan had some Giant Aquarium duties (see below) as well as hauling off debris, greenhouse tasks and push mowing.  I was able to continue hauling out plants to keep ahead of our planters.  There is still plenty of color out in the June garden but we’re putting in more BAZINGA with every plant we install.

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variegated fiveleaf aralia (Eleutherococcus sieboldianus ‘Variegatus’) – woody shrub

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‘Forever Purple’ coral bells (Heuchera) – perennial

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valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – perennial (fragrant!) – re-seeder!

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American smoketree (Cotinus obovatus) – woody tree

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Our volunteers did an excellent job today. Vicky (above) planted in three different areas (sunken garden, reception garden and larch wall planting).  She joined Brian (below) in the reception garden to finish off that space.  Kathy and Eva helped weed and plant in (and near) the Giant Aquarium.  Joe (second photo down) was a big help planting in the Giant Aquarium and in the gazebo garden.  He also helped Kathy and Eva with some weeding.  Big Jim and three RECAPPERS were around to help with various tasks.  Kay (fifth photo down) worked in her garden space after some planting and is battling the cottonwood (Populus deltoides) seedlings.  Maury (third photo down) did a lot of odd jobs…literally “odd” jobs like working with these flamingos.  Alan (fourth photo down) was a huge help watering in the entrance garden and later moved to our frontage fence (along Palmer Drive) and is tidying up the mess along that fence line (messy).  Bill O. was around for some mowing and Larry O. was our much appreciated “water boy” out in the yard.  It was a VERY productive day!

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Brian (above)

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Joe (above)

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Maury (above) with a flock of flamingoes (actually called a “pat of flamingoes”)

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Alan (above) serving time along the outer fence line

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Kay (above) with some Martagon lilies

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the Giant Aquarium is coming together nicely

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Trevor and Nolan (right) above created the sandy sea floor today!

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‘Komodo Dragon’ plantain lily (Hosta) in center with lots of fun neighbors

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Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum) – perennial

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variegated catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides ‘Variegata’) – woody

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‘Albiflorum’ Martagon lily (Lilium martagon) – perennial