Autumn Tasks – No Shortage

While the weather was quite pleasant today after some light morning sprinkles, the next two evenings promise some frost which will likely end our season for annuals and tropicals.  We’ve been removing annuals in advance of this frost as many become mushy after a frost and are less easy to remove.  There is still plenty of color out in the gardens with late blooming perennials like the monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii) seen above.  Our later perennials may make it through this light frost for extended interest but the fall color in many areas is superb and the ornamental grasses are making a nice show as well.  Many perennials and grasses will continue to look better well in to November. The light rain didn’t keep away our volunteers today and we had a productive day out in the gardens.  It was also nice to see a lot of kids out in the gardens today on a scavenger hunt.

 ‘Dark Beauty’ toadlily (Tricyrtis formosana) – perennial
colorful seed capsules of the ‘Carmencita Red’ castor bean (Ricinus communis) – annual (poisonous!)
 the colorful border in the gazebo…hopefully will get through the frost!
 enjoy this Supertunia ‘Vista Bubblegum’ petunia (Petunia) before the frost finishes it off!
 ‘Sky Rocket’ variegated annual fountain grass (Pennisetum x advena) is looking nice

It was a gorgeous Autumn day for volunteering and we had a good sized (and talented) crew this morning.  Above is Sandi, who along with Eva (seen in red to the above left), Kathy, Peg, Bonnie and Marilyn, did a great job tidying up the woodland walk garden.  There were plenty of leaves to collect and we’re cutting down some perennials as well.  This garden will have many lights in it very soon for the Holiday Light Show (HLS) so we’re getting our tidying done now.  Dick H. came over to help his wife Marilyn (see photo further down) after some other projects as well.  Directly below are Dave (left) and Jim sizing up a bench for measurements and repair.  The guys were working with Vern back at the shop too on some pending projects.  Pat M. worked on arch set up for the HLS.  Alan and Ron R. worked on hauling brush and some recent debris from pruning (from John and Steve) and continued with leaf collection.  Ron P. and Bob C. took the windows down in the Jungle Garden and moved on to tidying as well.  Dr. Gredler and Rollie were out for mowing and we also saw Urban, Gary, Mary W., Barb T. and many others.

 Dave (left) and Jim
 Kathy
 Marilyn (upper left) and Peg
 Bonnie
 Pat M. (above) putting up arches for the HLS (note the cool reflection!)
 Ron R. (left) and Alan tidying in the Japanese garden
 Ron P. (above) and Bob C. (below) did a couple different projects and did nice work

 

 Dick and Marilyn (what a cute couple)
Steve (above) donated 12 new koi to our pond today (beautiful fish)
 the pretzel beans (Vigna unguiculata) are looking good
 Spanish flag (Mina lobata) vine is just starting to bloom! – annual
 cathedral bells (Cobaea scandens) is blooming strongly – annual
black-eyed Susan vines (Thunbergia sp.) have had an excellent year – annual